U.T. all set for vote count

The process will take place in 31 halls at six centres

After a nearly month-long wait since Puducherry voted under President’s rule on April 6, the spotlight has zoomed in on a sprawling campus in the city where the votes will be counted amid tight security on Sunday. The process will involve accounting for an estimated 8.20 lakh votes polled across 30 Assembly constituencies after the Union Territory, with 10.04 lakh voters, registered a turnout of 81.69%. The battle for the 30-seat House (which also has three nominated members) is essentially between the Congress-led alliance comprising the DMK, the Left parties and the VCK, and the NDA consisting of the AINRC, the BJP, the AIADMK and the PMK. The 324 candidates in the fray include nominees of the AMMK, the NTK and the MNM and Independents. The counting will take place in 31 halls spread across the six centres in the Union Territory. The three centres for all 23 constituencies in the Puducherry region will be on a campus at Lawspet — the Women’s Polytechnic, Mothilal Nehru Government Polytechnic and the Tagore Arts College. In the regional enclaves, there is one centre each for Karaikal (5 constituencies) and the sole constituencies of Mahe and Yanam.