Early trends: NDA opens account in Kerala with lead in Kottayam

With Left Democratic Front (LDF) leading in 22 seats and United Democratic Front (UDF) ahead in 23 seats in Kerala, the NDA has opened its account with a lead in Kottayam.

According to latest Election Commission data on counting of postal ballots, Trinamool Congress (TMC) is leading on 11 seats while Left is leading in eight seats. BJP is leading in one seat, with their candidate Rahul Sinha leading from Jorashanko Assembly Constituency in Kolkata.

Amit Mitra, Finance Minister of Bengal and TMC candidate from Khardah assembly constituency seat is leading from his Constituency. Power Minister of West Bengal Manish Gupta is trailing at the moment against the CPM alliance candidate Sujan Chakraborty in the prestigious Jadavpur Assembly Constituency seat.

In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK is leading in eight seats, while DMK is leading in 13 seats. Chief Minister Jayalailithaa is leading in RK Nagar constituency seat by 1906 votes, as per latest reports.

Although the final picture would be clear only by noon, early trends are likely to emerge as soon as the counting starts at 8 a.m. Election Commission has reportedly said counting of votes will be over by 3 p.m.

Exits polls have predicted an edge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam, while an outright win for incumbent Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal.

The counting of votes will decide the fate of approximately 8,300 candidates, including political stalwarts like Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Chief Minister M Rangaswamy in Puducherry.