In the 2016 assembly elections, the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK juggernaut in Tamil Nadu had gotten a simple majority, with the chief minister bucking the anti-incumbency trend and retaining power in Tamil Nadu for a second consecutive term. This was a feat unheard of in the state for more than three decades. Jaya's AIADMK had then bagged 130 seats, continuing the winning streak after her party bagged 39 seats of the 40 at stake in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Come 2021, and all eyes are on the state's immediate neighbour Kerala. Like Jaya did in Tamil Nadu, CM Pinarayi Vijayan and the Left Front can script history if they win the polls. They can break the four-decade-old jinx of anti-incumbency, with the state continuously oscillating between the Communists and the Congress-led United Democratic Front.
To add to the CPI(M) hopes, almost all exit polls had projected the ruling Left combine to comfortably retain power in Kerala.
The state had witnessed a fierce contest among the LDF, UDF and the BJP-NDA during the campaign, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, various Union ministers—including Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, among others—campaigning for the saffron party. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi made multiple visits to various constituencies to woo voters. For the LDF, party general secretary Sitaram Yechury and senior leaders Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat and CPI leader D. Raja, among others, campaigned extensively.
As many as 957 candidates, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, 11 of his cabinet colleagues, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy, 'Metroman' E. Sreedharan, former Union Minister K.J. Alphons and BJP state president K. Surendran, among others, were in fray in the election to the 140 seats.
Going into political battles in the crucial states of West Bengal and Kerala, the Left Front's fortune depends on its alliance partners as it looks to retain power in the southern state and revive its political relevance in the eastern, once its stronghold. In both the states, the Congress will significantly influence the Left's prospects—as an opponent against the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala, and a partner in West Bengal.
Yechury is convinced that the Left-led alliance is poised to return to power. "We will return to power and it will be unprecedented. There will be a continuity in the government. This is because of the work done by the LDF which was vindicated in the results of the local body polls. In Kerala the BJP will be cut to size, but unfortunately the Congress-led UDF is playing in tandem with the BJP in Kerala to defeat the LDF,” he said.
While the postal ballots counting would begin at 8am on Sunday after which the votes polled in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) is expected to be taken up half-an hour later. A total of 5,84,238 postal ballots were distributed in the State and 4,54,237 ballots were returned on April 28. The first trend is expected by 10am. On an average there will be 15 rounds of counting in every constituency. So, by 4pm or 5pm, the first results can be expected, Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena told news agency PTI.
Over 24,000 polling officials, including reserve personnel, would be participating in the counting exercise and as many as 30,281 police personnel, including 3,332 from the central force, have been deployed in the State on the counting day. Of the total electorate of 2,74,46,039 in the state, as many as 2,03,27,893 people had exercised their franchise. Candidates or agents would be allowed to enter the counting centres only if they have taken two doses of the COVID vaccine or carry COVID negative certificates.
