J Jayalalithaa looks set for two-third majority in Tamil Nadu; Trinamool establishes lead in three-fourths of constituencies in West Bengal; Congress-led United Democratic Front has edge over Left in Kerala

Moneylife Digital Team

J Jayalalithaa’s All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam (AIADMK) surprised most pollsters this morning, establishing a huge lead in counting of votes to the Tamil Nadu state assembly, while Mamata Banerjee was sweeping through West Bengal with leads in nearly three-quarters of the constituencies for which trends were available till 11 am.

In Kerala, the other Left-ruled state, the ruling CPI(M)-led alliance was struggling to hang on to power. Kerala has never returned a ruling party to a second consecutive term. The Left Front was ahead in 53 of the constituencies and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) was leading in 57 of the about 120 constituencies for which counting trends were available. The LDF had won 13 of the seats for which results were declared so far and the UDF 15. The LDF previously had 98 seats against the UDF’s 42 in the 140-member Kerala state assembly.

In West Bengal, it was a clear knockout, with the CPI(M) suffering heavy losses across the state which it has ruled uninterrupted for over three decades. Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) in alliance with the Congress party appeared likely to win about 216 of the 285 constituencies for which trends were available. This is even bigger than the 176 seats the CPI(M) had in the 294-member house of elected representatives. The TMC had just 31 members and the Congress 20 in the previous legislative assembly.

While the TMC was expected to win easily, the surprise perhaps was in Tamil Nadu, where poll pundits had given the corruption-tainted DMK a chance. The principal opposition AIADMK was leading in 192 of the constituencies till 11 am, while the ruling DMK-Congress alliance was ahead in only 41, which is a huge comedown from the 163 seats it had in the 234-member house. Exit poll predictions had given the DMK 102-114 and the AIADMK alliance 120-132.

In Assam and Puducherry, the ruling Congress party was making good gains to be able to strengthen its position further in the two states.

In Assam, the Congress was leading in counting in 74 constituencies, compared to only seven with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). Other parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party were ahead in 34 constituencies, but the Congress may not need much support from the smaller parties to form the new government this time. The Congress previously had 53 members in the 126-member house.

In Puducherry, the Congress-DMK alliance was leading in 11 constituencies, against 10 with the AIADMK-AINRC, with others ahead in three constituencies. Puducherry has a 30-member legislative assembly.