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Counting of votes polled in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election held on April 6 commenced on Sunday across the State amid tight security and in tune with fresh COVID-19 guidelines.
Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu were contested by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam, Makkal Needhi Maiam (all of which are part of the Secular Progressive Alliance, National Democratic Alliance, Makkalin Mudhal Kootani) and other parties.
Polling in 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu was held on April 6, 2021 that recorded 72.78% turnout.
Here are the latest updates from Kerala. For live updates on results of the other elections, follow Assam | Puducherry | Kerala | West Bengal. For constituency-wise results and maps, visit Assam | Kerala| Puducherry| Kerala | West Bengal.
12.50 pm
Kamal Haasan regains lead
In Coimbatore South, Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasaan has regained his lead. After Round 5, he is ahead of Congress candidate Mayura Jayakumar by 2,042 votes. BJP’s Vanathi Srinivasan is at third position with 8,575 votes.
Mr. Kamal Haasan, during his campaign, had said he would remain engaged with voters of the constituency by opening offices at all the 19 wards in the constituency, if elected.
12.45 pm
DMK ahead in 137 seats, AIADMK leads in 94
As of now the trends indicate the repeat of the 2016 numbers with the DMK and the AIADMK swapping places. In 2016, the AIADMK won 136 seats and the DMK-led alliance 98. (The DMK improved its tally after the bypolls held in 2019 for the seats from where AIADMK rebels were disqualified).
While the DMK was ahead in 137 seats, the AIADMK was in 94, according to trends available for 232 out of 234 constituencies.
The trends indicated that the DMK was ahead in constituencies including Kurinjipadi, Neyveli, Virudhachalam.
12.25 pm
BJP’s Kushbhoo trails behind DMK’s Ezhilan
In high-profile Thousand Lights seat in Chennai, at the end of fifth round, DMK candidate N. Ezhilan has got 14,018 while BJP candidate Kushboo has got 5,276. Mr. Ezhilan leads by 8,742 votes.
Ms. Kushboo joined the BJP in October 2020 after resigning from the Congress. Ms. Kushboo started her political career in the DMK in 2010 before joining the Congress in 2014.
Mr. Ezhilan, a physician, focussed on door-to-door meetings with voters, discussing civic issues, in compliance with the COVID-19 protocols, ahead of the crucial contest.
12.20 pm
PMK’s G. K. Mani is leads by 7,388 votes against DMK’s P. N. P. Inbasekaran in Pennagaram at the end of round 5.
In Udhagamandalam, BJP’s M. Bhojarajan’s lead narrows to less than 2,000 votes after round 10. He leads the Congress’ R. Ganesh.
In Tiruchuli, former Minister Thangam Thennarasu of the DMK takes a huge lead over AIADMK’s S. Rajasekar. The margin, 10,181 votes, is higher than the total votes polled by AIADMK candidate.
12.15 pm
In Sankarankoil (reserved), Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister V.M. Rajalakshmi is trailing by over 2,000 votes.
Ms. Rajalakshmi was the first-time MLA in 2016, and secured a Cabinet berth thanks to her father-in-law Velusamy’s services to the party.
Former DMK Minister M. P. Saminathan is leading with 6,628 votes at the end of second round in Kangeyam. AIADMK’s candidate A.S. Ramalingam is trailing with 5,929 votes.
12.10 pm
Udhayanidhi Stalin leads after Round 5
DMK youth wing chief and Mr. Stalin’s son Udhayanidhi has increased his lead. He leads by 13,880 votes after the fifth round of counting in Chepauk Thiruvallikeni.
Mr. Udhayanidhi is making his electoral debut in a constituency represented by his late grandfather and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. In an interview to The Hindu, he had said he was an accidental actor and but always linked to politics.
12.00 pm
In Katpadi, DMK general secretary Duraimurugan is trailing by 1,309 votes against his rival V. Ramu of the AIADMK.
DMK general secretary and candidate for Katpadi constituency Duraimurugan sitting in front of the counting area at Government Law college on May 2, 2021. C. Venkatachalapathy
In 2016, Mr. Duraimurugan won the seat by a margin of 23,946 votes. The DMK had a new general secretary in Duraimurugan in September 2020. The post fell vacant in March 2020 after the death of party stalwart K. Anbazhagan, who had held the position since 1977.
Mr. Duraimurugan is contesting from Katpadi for the ninth time since 1971. He lost twice – 1984 and 1991. In between he won from Ranipet – 1977 and 1980. His son Kathir Anand is a Lok Sabha MP from Vellore.
“Thalaivar [Karunanidhi] used to ask us to serve without any expectation. Winning or not is secondary, service should be first,” Mr. Duraimurugan had said in an interview to The Hindu.
11.55 am
Kamal Haasan trailing behind Congress candidate
In Coimbatore South, MNM founder Kamalhaasan is now trailing by 116 votes against Mayura S. Jayakumar of the Congress. BJP’s Vanathi Srinivasan is in third place.
Coimbatore South has become a star constituency this time, thanks to the high-profile contestants. Ms. Vanathi Srinivasan is the BJP Mahila Morcha president ; Mr. Jayakumar is the TNCC working president, and of course Mr. Haasan.
11.45 am
In Athur Assembly constituency in Dindigul district, DMK candidate and former Minister I. Periasami has established a huge margin of 18,218 votes at the end of 4th round of counting.
Mr. Periasami has been representing the constituency since 1989 barring 1991 and 2011. After he had filed his nominations and when a reporter pointed out that PMK candidate Thilaga Bama’s challenged him for a debate on Kudaganaru issue, Mr. Periasami said he was ready to debate on it even with her leader Ramadoss. Later, he explained that the DMK had strived hard for a consensus on the Kudaganaru issue.
11.40 am
DMK candidate and former Minister V. Senthil Balaji is leading by 907 votes in Karur after the second round of counting.
It is a high-octane battle of heavyweights in Karur, with Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar of the AIADMK and former Transport Minister V. Senthil Balaji of the DMK crossing swords. Amid mutual accusations over the use of money power, the constituency is witnessing fierce and hectic electioneering.
Mr. Senthil Balaji was with AIADMK until Jayalalithaa’s demise. He stood by T.T.V. Dhinakaran when AIADMK was muddled with in-party factions after Jayalalithaa’s demise. He was one of the 18 MLAs disqualifed be the Speaker for their petition to the Governor to change the Chief Minister. He subsequently joined DMK and won from Aravakurichi.
11.30 am
OPS trailing in Bodinayakanu
In Bodinayakanur, O. Panneerselvam is trailing behind at end of Round 2 with 6,414 votes and DMK candidate Thanga Tamil Selvan has polled 6,538.
Mr. Panneerselvam, who is aiming for a hat trick, had been elected from the constituency in 2011 and 2016. This time, he is facing a tougher rival in Thanga Tamil Selvan, who shot into fame for vacating his seat for former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in 2001. After her death, he threw his weight behind T.T.V. Dhinakaran, and was one of the AIADMK MLAs disqualified by the Speaker. After losing the Theni Lok Sabha seat in 2019, he joined the DMK and was named propaganda secretary.
11.15 am
Palaniswami leads in Edappadi
CM K. Palaniswami is leading by 19,903 votes in Edappadi constituency.
For the first time, Edappadi voted for a chief ministerial candidate, whose stint at the helm is under scrutiny. In his campaign, Mr. Palaniswami has not missed any opportunity to highlight rapid development in the region, including new flyovers, the Mettur surplus water scheme and the establishment of a livestock research institute in the district.
11.00 am
Counting for Tiruttani briefly stopped
Counting has been stopped for Tiruttani constituency for sometime now after Round 6 due to issues in EVM at Tiruvallur.
Tiruttani Assembly constituency derives its growth and development from its position as a pilgrimage centre, from textile industry, agriculture and its proximity to Andhra Pradesh.
10.45 am
‘Ma Foi’ K. Pandiarajan trailing in Avadi
In Avadi, DMK candidate S.M. Nasar leads with 4,599 votes against Minister ‘Ma Foi’ K. Pandiarajan with 3,291 votes after round 2.
Mr. Pandiarjan had defeated Mr. Nasar by a margin of 1,395 votes in 2016. Residents of Pattabiram and Avadi town had said they were impressed with the work of their MLA, who is a Minister and that they were unhappy only with the functioning of the Municipal Corporation. The much-awaited underground sewage project was happening, Mr. Pandiarajan said, adding it covers around 8,000 homes.
10.30 am
Stalin leads in Kolathur constituency
DMK leader M.K. Stalin leads with a margin of 3,697 votes at the end of second round in Kolathur constituency.
Tamil Nadu people are keen on a change and the performance of the DMK-led alliance will exceed the predictions and the coalition will win all 234 seats, Mr. Stalin had said. He had also called upon partymen and cadres of alliance parties not to crowd near counting centres to celebrate the victory when the results are out.
10.20 am
Congress leads in Kanyakumari Lok Sabha constituency
Congress is leading in Kanyakumari Lok Sabha bypoll. Actor turned politician Vijay Vasanth is the Congress candidate. He is the son of H. Vasanthakumar who defeated former Minister Pon Radhakrishnan in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Vasanthakumar succumbed to COVID-19, due to which byelections were necessitated.
10.10 am
Kamal leads in Coimbatore South
Makkal Needhi Kamal Haasan arrives in Coimbatore on May 2, 2021. Photo: Special Arrangement
Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan is leading in Coimbatore South constituency. At the end of Round 1, Mr. Kamal Haasan leads with 2,010 votes, BJP’s Vanathi Srinivasan secures 1,379 votes and Congress’ Mayura Jayakumar gets 1,926 votes.
Mr. Kamal Haasan, during his campaign, attacked both the DMK and the AIADMK, alleging that they were “corrupt” and there was little difference between them. He is hoping to lead a third front.
10.00 am
Take a look at Tamil Nadu counting day scenario in pictures:
Click on the right arrow to go through our gallery
9.45 am
Early trends indicate edge for DMK
Early trends indicated an edge for the DMK with the ruling AIADMK following behind and key leaders of both the fronts were leading in their respective segments.
About an hour following commencement of counting of votes, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami was leading in his home segment of Edappadi in Salem district and leader of opposition and DMK president M.K. Stalin was ahead in Kolathur constituency here.
While the DMK combine was ahead in 30 segments, the AIADMK was leading in at least 18 constituencies.
Indications showed that the DMK was ahead in constituencies including Kurinjipadi, Neyveli, Virudhachalam.
BJP’s State unit chief L. Murugan was ahead in Dharapuram and AIADMK leaders and State Ministers K.C. Veeramani and Benjamin were ahead in Jolarpet and Maduravoyal.
9.30 am
Counting of postal votes on brisk note
ALL SET: A postal votes counting centre for Thoothukudi constituency, at a counting centre on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: N. Rajesh
In most of the Assembly constituencies in southern districts of Tamil Nadu, counting of postal votes started on a brisk note. Early trends indicated that apart from the DMK and the AIADMK, Congress and BJP candidates too have polled sizable votes.
DMK was leading in Dindigul district, while AIADMK was marginally ahead in Theni, Sivaganga districts. – L. Srikrishna
9.25 am
Minor scuffle at counting centre in Virudhunagar
Minor scuffle in counting centre in Virudhunagar district as AIADMK candidate for Aruppukottai AC, Vaigaichelvan, by mistake enters in counting hall for Sattur AC. AMMK counting agent’s shirt torn after a fisticuff between the AIADMK and AMMK agents
9.20 am
Polling official faints
Periyasamy, counting superintendent, Thiruvaiyaru Constituency, fainted at the counting hall when the counting process was about to commence.
He was immediately rushed to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital for treatment.
9.10 am
Nearly 4,000 candidates in the fray
3,998 candidates are in the fray, including top AIADMK leaders, Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, DMK president M.K. Stalin and his son and party youth wing secretary, Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is seeking to enter the Assembly for the first time.
The votes recorded in EVMs would be taken up by 8.30 a.m. and it is also set to be tallied as per rules with Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).
Control units being taken from the strong room to counting hall at the Institute of Road and Transport Technology at Chithode in Erode in Tamil Nadu on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: M. GOVARTHAN
Counting agents were allowed through specified pathways into counting halls after verifying if they have complied with norms like RT-PCR tests and two doses of COVID-19 vaccination.
Sunday being a complete lockdown in Tamil Nadu to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, the roads were deserted and over one lakh police personnel have been deployed as part of security measures for the vote counting day.
Polls were held to 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu and by-election was also held to the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat, where Congress party’s Vijay Vasanth and BJP leader Pon. Radhakrishnan are the key candidates.
8.50 am
Intensified bandobust arrangements
The overall political scenario in Tamil Nadu was electrified due to the multi-cornered contests.
Referring to the incidents that occurred during the visit of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to Coimbatore on March 31, 2021, and the murder of two Dalits at Somanur near Arakkonam in Ranipet district on April 2, 2021, the DGP’s office instructed police officers to strengthen security arrangements in vulnerable places not only in both these districts but its adjoining areas that witnessed caste/communal violence in the recent past.
Intensified bandobust arrangements are in place at sensitive and few other closely-fought constituencies like Karur, Thondamuthur, Coimbatore South, Aravakurichi, Bodi, Thirumangalam, Thiruvarur, Tiruchi West, Ramanathapuram etc.
The police were also told to keep a vigil in Thoothukudi district where protesters had planned to organise agitations against Sterlite being allowed to open its facility for manufacturing Oxygen. – S. Vijay Kumar
8.40 am
Thousands of police personnel to enforce lockdown, EC guidelines
Security personnel keeping a vigil at the Government College of Technology, a counting centre for the Assembly elections in Coimbatore on May 2, 2021.
| Photo Credit: M. Periasamy
Security personnel keeping a vigil at the Government College of Technology, a counting centre for the Assembly elections in Coimbatore on May 2, 2021.
| Photo Credit: M. Periasamy
Counting of votes began for 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu with thousands of police personnel, including companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), deployed at heavily guarded counting centres across the State.
Election officials, candidates, their agents and other authorised persons were allowed to enter the counting centres as per the Standard Operating Procedure prescribed by the Election Commission and the Health Department to curb the spread of COVID-19. The counting of postal ballots commenced first.
Director-General of Police J.K. Tripathy reviewed the security arrangements with two police officers, including Chennai Police Commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal, Additional Director-General of Police (Law & Order) Jayant Murali, Chief of Intelligence C. Easwaramoorthy among others late on Saturday evening.
In a note to all senior police officers, the State police headquarters said though the campaign and polling passed off peacefully without any incident, the situation remained tense during the pre-election scenario due to various communal and political issues. – S. Vijay Kumar
8.30 am
Counting begins in Central T.N. with rigid adherence to safety protocol
Counting of votes in Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Karur, Pudukottai, Ariyalur and other central districts has begun at different counting centres established in various educational institutions.
While the votes polled in Tiruchi (East) and Tiruchi (West) are being counted at Jamal Mohamed College in Tiruchi, Saranathan College of Engineering at Panjappur is the counting centre for the votes polled in Manapparai, Srirangam and Thiruverumbur constituencies. The votes polled in Lalgudi and Mannachanallur constituencies are being counted at K. Ramakrishnan College of Engineering near Samayapuram. Imayam College of Engineering is the centre for counting of votes polled in Thuraiyur and Musiri constituencies.
Counting of votes polled in Karur, Krishnarayapuram, Kulithalai and Aravakurichi has begun at M. Kumarasamy College of Engineering on the outskirts of Karur, amid tight security in and around the counting centre. – C. Jaishankar
8.22 am
Postal ballots first…
Counting of postal ballots to start at Loyola College counting centre for Thousand Lights constituency.
| Photo Credit: Sunitha Sekar
The counting of votes began at 8 a.m. in 75 counting centres spread across the State with authorities taking up a count of postal ballots first, authorities said.
8 am
State braces for election results
Counting of votes for the 16th Assembly election in Tamil Nadu will begin at 8 a.m. amid a stringent COVID-19 protocol and heavy security. Votes polled in the byelection to the Kanniyakumari Lok Sabha constituency will also be counted.
The counting will take place at 75 centres. The postal ballots will be counted first before the votes polled in the EVMs are taken up. There will be a minimum of 14 tables in each counting hall, with a maximum of 43 rounds. Three constituencies — Pallavaram, Chengalpattu and Tambaram — will have more than 40 rounds. The number of tables will also be more than 14 in some of the larger constituencies, according to the data provided by the Election Commission. There will be a total of 3,372 tables and 6,213 rounds (in all 234 constituencies).
The Election Commission has said all candidates and their agents will be allowed into the counting hall if only they have undergone RT-PCR/RAT tests and reported negative or taken two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. It has also deployed reserve counting observers to replace the counting observers falling ill. The counting halls will be disinfected once in two hours.
7.30 am
Key contest between ruling AIADMK and main opposition DMK
After being out of power for 10 years, the DMK hopes to be back in the saddle in T.N. Meanwhile, there is a search for new alignments in both States. The fragmentation of Dravidian politics, following the passing of Jayalalithaa of the AIADMK and M. Karunanidhi of the DMK, has opened up possibilities. Actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan and film-maker and Tamil nationalist Seeman also fancy their chances as they jostle for space in the changed scenario. Though the BJP is far from gaining a foothold in either State, its looming influence is evident in the resonance of religious appeals in the public sphere.
In Tamil Nadu, all exit polls are pointing at one direction — an emphatic comeback of the DMK bringing M.K. Stalin, heir of Karunanidhi in Chief Minister’s seat. Read more
“Do not crowd”
DMK president M.K. Stalin on Friday called upon partymen and cadres of alliance parties not to crowd near counting centres to celebrate the victory when the results of the Assembly election come out on Sunday.
In T.N., the DMK sought to give itself a makeover as a party not antithetical to customs and traditions. In the rivalry between the Dravidian camps in T.N., the Congress used to be the swing power. Whether it retains that role is to be seen. Read Editorial
In the assembly elections, a total of 5,68,580 more women voted than men in 2021, the widest increase in the history of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, according to the figures released by the Chief Electoral Officer. Of the total 4,57,76,311 people who voted, 2,31,71,736 were women, 2,26,03,156 were men, and 1,419 were others. Read more
Data
Take a look at our chart showing the turnout (in %) in the past 10 elections in Tamil Nadu, coloured according to winning coalition. Read more
Watch
A video on Tamil Nadu’s first Assembly election held during a pandemic
(With inputs from Correspondents, Agencies)
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