UDF Surges Ahead: Congress Cheers as Exit Polls Defied

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has crossed a crucial electoral milestone in Kerala, leading in 82 seats according to official Election Commission data. Congress alone is leading in 50 seats, while its ally, the Muslim League, shows strong performance with 17 leads. Meanwhile, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) trails with leads in 51 seats. State Congress president Sunny Joseph attributed the LDF's setback to 'anti-people policies' under leader Vijayan.

Defying exit polls' projections, Congress MP Jebi Mather announced exhilaration as the party's alliance surpassed 89 leads, nearing the century mark. This electoral success is perceived as a significant victory for the UDF, reflecting discontent with the incumbent CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala. Mather expressed gratitude towards the people of Kerala, acknowledging the direct impact of anti-incumbency sentiment.

Across the broader electoral landscape, counting continues in significant regions including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. The process commenced with postal ballots, followed by Electronic Voting Machine counts. This occurs under tight security measures and real-time updates via the ECINET platform. Tensions flared as TMC accused officials of bias towards BJP polling agents, alleging unequal enforcement of rules, while the BJP counteracted with accusations against TMC agents. Despite these challenges, West Bengal noted a record voter turnout with a remarkable 91.66% in the second phase.

(With inputs from agencies.)