Bhubaneswar, May 4 -- Counting of votes for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Kerala began at 8 am on Monday amid tight security arrangements, with both southern states witnessing crucial political contests that could shape their political direction for the next five years.

The counting process commenced with postal ballots, followed by EVM counting from 8:30 am. Round-wise trends and results are being updated in real time through the Election Commission's ECINET platform and official portal.

In Tamil Nadu, the political narrative appears relatively predictable, with the ruling DMK-led alliance widely expected to retain power. Backed by strong voter turnout and favourable exit poll projections, the alliance has expressed confiden...