Chennai: The counting of votes for the recently concluded voting for the Tamil Nadu local body started on Tuesday at 8 am. As per the latest trends, DMK is leading in nine wards of Chennai Corporation. The party is leading in wards 1,8,15,49,181,59,94,196, and 174.
The ruling DMK-led government faced the election in an alliance with over 10 parties but AIADMK contested the polls alone.
The Election Commission brought the Electronic Voting Machines kept in strong rooms and removed the seal in the presence of the party candidates on Tuesday. Following this, the counting of votes has also started in several districts from 8 am.
However, the initial trends of the voting will be clear only from 10 am.
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The voting for the elections to 12,500 wards in 21 corporations, 138 municipalities and 489 town panchayats started on Saturday. There was also a repoll on Monday in seven wards due to the previous allegation of booth capturing.
Overall, Tamil Nadu recorded 61 percent voter turnout, and the least was reported in Chennai with only 43.9 percent voters casting their votes on Saturday.
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On Tuesday, the counting has also started with initial hiccups and unexpected hindrances. In Chennai's Anna University and at polling booths in Cuddalore and Virudhunagar, the counting of votes got delayed since the keys of the strong room went missing. In all three places, the counting started after the strong room's lock was broken with a hammer, according to a report on Indian Express.
After a delay, the boxes were opened before the candidates and the counting of votes has started.