The DMK has challenged a one-vote election loss in Tiruppattur, alleging a postal ballot mix-up between two districts of the same name. The Madras High Court has barred the winning TVK MLA from participating in the assembly floor test until the petition is resolved.
In a nail-biting finish, TVK candidate R Seenivasa Sethupathy narrowly defeated DMK minister K R Periyakaruppan by a single vote in the Tirupattur constituency. The final tally saw Sethupathy secure 83,375 votes against Periyakaruppan's 83,374, following a prolonged counting process that included re-verification of postal ballots.
In a nail-biting finish, TVK candidate R Seenivasa Sethupathy narrowly defeated DMK minister K R Periyakaruppan by a single vote in the Tirupattur constituency. The final tally saw Sethupathy secure 83,375 votes against Periyakaruppan's 83,374, following a prolonged counting process that included re-verification of postal ballots.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has dismissed exit poll results as attempts to manipulate the stock market, claiming Trinamool Congress will win over 200 seats in the May 4 assembly election count. In a virtual address to party colleagues, Banerjee urged counting agents not to leave their tables without replacement and advised against anxiety if postal ballot results initially go against the party. She and party leader Abhishek Banerjee alleged the BJP was using the Election Commission and that party workers were being selectively targeted. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari called on all parties to maintain peace and accept the people's mandate, referencing post-2021 election violence in which the BJP claims 300 workers were killed.
The Trinamool Congress staged a protest in Kolkata, alleging EVM tampering and procedural lapses in strongrooms before the West Bengal assembly polls. The party accused the BJP and Election Commission of collusion, while the EC asserted the strongrooms were secure and footage showed routine postal ballot segregation.
A confrontation broke out between Trinamool Congress and BJP workers at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in central Kolkata late Thursday, with TMC alleging EVM tampering after CCTV footage showed people entering the strongroom. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee camped at a counting centre in Bhowanipore while urging party candidates to maintain round-the-clock vigil until May 4. Election Commission officials denied any tampering, stating the strongroom has three-tier security and the people seen were authorised representatives segregating postal ballots.
