The electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be opened by 8 a.m. marking the beginning of the counting process. It is expected by 11 a.m. the trends will be known and the final results will be out by noon or so. There is nerve racking suspense over the present elections in five states especially in Telangana.

The final voters’ verdict in Telangana will impact the realignment of parties at national level. This will decide the direction for anti-BJP parties with TDP National President and AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu taking a pivotal role. While People’s Front of Congress, TD, TJS and CPI are confident of polarisation of anti-TRS vote, caretaker CM KCR is banking on his welfare programmes and support from friendly parties like MIM.

Counting will be carried out in a minimum of 12 rounds to a maximum of 42 rounds depending on the size of each assembly segment and election machinery available there. The fates of parties will be known in five states of Telangana, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram.

The Congress and its allies are in an upbeat mood as exit polls have predicted results in favour of it in many states. While national level organisations predicted victory for TRS in Telangana, former MP Lagadapati Rajagopal favoured People’s Front saying national organisations do not have a proper understanding of local voter behaviours.