No Clear Winner in Early Trends as Counting Gets Underway

Early leads from postal ballots on Monday pointed to a fragmented electoral landscape as counting began across 823 constituencies in four states and one Union Territory, with tight contests in several key regions and no clear overall trend emerging.

In Assam, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) moved ahead in initial trends, opening a lead over the Congress-led alliance. In Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) edged ahead of the AIADMK-led bloc, continuing its early advantage.

Kerala appeared headed for a close contest, with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and United Democratic Front (UDF) running nearly even in early leads. In West Bengal, trends fluctuated between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), indicating a closely fought race.

The figures reflect only postal ballot counts, with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) counting beginning shortly after. The Election Commission of India has not yet released official consolidated trends.

Security was heightened across counting centres as officials began the process. Armoured patrols were deployed in parts of West Bengal, including Malda, while strong rooms were opened under tight supervision in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

In Chennai, multi-layered security arrangements were in place at major counting hubs, including Loyola College, where authorities processed votes from millions of ballots amid strict entry checks and barricading.

Tensions surfaced early in West Bengal, where rival party agents exchanged allegations over access and protocol inside counting centres. Representatives of the TMC claimed unequal enforcement of rules, while BJP agents said their counterparts lacked proper identification and were creating disruptions.

With EVM counting underway, early leads are expected to shift significantly as the day progresses.

(With inputs from ANI)