Counting to begin at 8am today, trends will emerge by 11am

Puducherry: The counting of votes polled in 30 assembly constituencies in the just concluded polls in the Union territory of Puducherry will begin at 8am on May 19 at five centres - two in Puducherry region and one each in its enclaves of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.
The election department has made elaborate arrangements providing adequate security to the counting centres in the territory.A clear picture of the winners would emerge by 11am.
The Election Commission of India has made arrangements for providing online information of trends and results of counting on its website http://eciresults.nic.in from 8am onwards on May 19.
As many as 344 candidates from various political parties are in the fray from 30 constituencies. The exit polls have predicted victory for the Congress-DMK combine in the Union territory.
The main contest is between the Congress-DMK and Congress splinter group All India NR Congress (AINRC), which wrested power from the Congress in the previous assembly polls. Puducherry recorded 84.08% polling, which is 2.11% less than the polling percent in last assembly polls (86.19%).
Of the total 9.41 lakh voters, 7.91 lakh voters cast votes in this polls. Women voters (4.22 lakh) turned out in large numbers than men (3.68 lakh) to exercise their rights.
Meanwhile People's welfare front alleged that political parties distributed money to the voters and influenced them to cast votes in their favour in the polls in the territory.
The front demanded the Election commission of India to order re-polls in all the 30 assembly constituencies in Puducherry. The convener of the front R Viswanathan told reporters that the front has submitted a memorandum in this regard to the ECI.
He charged that all the major political parties including the Congress, AINRC, DMK, AIADMK and BJP had distributed cash ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 per vote to the electorate in various constituencies.
He regretted that the ECI focused only on ensuring a peaceful polls and miserably failed in curbing large scale distribution of cash for votes by all major political parties.
He said the front lodged complaints through various mediums between May 14 and 16 but the ECI did not take any concrete action. He sought the ECI to constitute a high level team to probe into complaints.
The CPI leader recalled that the top ECI officials during their visit to the Union territory last month emphasized on the need to strengthen the vigil to prevent bribing of voters in Puducherry.