Trinamool ahead in West Bengal

Kerala appears to be heading for a tight finish with a neck and neck race between the UDF and the LDF in the state for the 140 assembly seats. Kerala chief minister CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan is leading over Congress` Lathika Subash by 1,320 votes in Malampuzha segment in Palakkad district.

In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee`s Trinamool Congress is ahead while the Left is trailing according to latest trends.

The counting process started at 8am in 839 halls spread over in five states involving 43,982 personnel.

The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the massive exercise and pressed into service nearly 17,700 central security personnel to provide a three-tier security.

The entire process, which would decide the fate of several political leaders, is being videographed to prevent any malpractice. According to Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi, the poll outcome is expected by "early lunch".

"Efficient and secure arrangements are in place for counting and declaration of results", Quraishi said.

The counting is taking place in 142 counting halls in Assam, 140 in Kerala, 11 in Puducherry, 234 in Tamil Nadu and 312 in West Bengal.

While Kerala has an assembly strength of 140, Assam has 126, Tamil Nadu 234, Puducherry 30 and West Bengal 294.

A total of 14.16 crore voters exercised their franchise in the five states which was 20 per cent of the total 72.8 crore electorate in the country with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal registering "all time record turnouts".

Stakes are high in West Bengal where post poll surveys predict that Mamata Banerjee`s Trinamool Congress is expected to oust CPM-led Left Front which is ruling the state for 34 years.

CPM is hopeful that like many previous occasions it would prove its detractors wrong and romp home for the eighth term.

In view of the political clashes witnessed in the state in the run up to the elections, the Central forces will stay in the state till May 23 to tackle the post-poll situation as per the EC directive.

The surveys also gave a close finish in Tamil Nadu where the two Dravidian parties, DMK and AIADMK vied with each other to woo voters.

For AIADMK`s Jayalalithaa it will be a battle to return to power after a hiatus of five years. DMK, which suffered setbacks on account of 2G spectrum scam and corruption involving the first family members, is seeking a second successive term.

In Kerala, the surveys gave a mixed picture with one predicting an upper hand for the ruling Left Front.

In Assam, surveys predict that the ruling Congress would retain power.