How Tamil Nadu waited for Assembly election results over the decades

The wait between polling and counting of votes in election is always a nail-biting period for politicians and electors. While in the current Assembly election period in Tamil Nadu, the gap between voting (April 23) and counting (May 4) is only 10 days, there have been instances where such waiting period lasted over 30 days.The 1967 Madras State Legislative Assembly election, a watershed moment that rewrote the State’s political destiny as the DMK dethroned the Congress, was held following a delimitation exercise. The number of constituencies was expanded from 206 to 234. The polling took place in three phases on February 15, February 18, and February 21. However, only 233 seats went for polling. Polling in Thirumangalam constituency in Madurai was cancelled due to the death of a candidate and held on April 29 that year. Counting for the main phases commenced on February 23.The 1971 Assembly election also spanned three days. Voters headed to polling booths on March 1, March 4, and March 7, while counting began on March 10. The DMK secured a massive majority and M Karunanidhi retained power. In June 1975, the Indira Gandhi Government at the Centre had promulgated the Emergency and the following January, the DMK government was dismissed.By 1977 when the state went to polls, the dynamics had shifted. After being expelled from the DMK, actor M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) had floated the ADMK (later rechristened AIADMK) in 1972. For the first time Tamil Nadu, all 234 constituencies voted on June 12, and counting concluded on June 14. MGR captured power.Despite the success of the single-day format, the State reverted to a two-phase contest for the 1980 elections, held following the MGR government’s dismissal. On May 28, 114 Assembly segments voted while electors in 120 constituencies exercised their franchise on May 31. The results were declared on June 1 and MGR returned as Chief Minister.Breaking away from the tradition of pre-summer or summer polls established since 1967, the 1984 election was the first to be held at the year’s end. With MGR hospitalised, his Cabinet opted for an early election. Simultaneously at the Centre, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi sought a fresh mandate following the assassination of his mother and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.A total of 232 seats went to polls on December 24. Polling in Egmore (SC) and Perambur (SC – now general seat) were countermanded due to candidate deaths and eventually took place the following January 28.The results for the 232 Assembly segments were declared on December 28, in which the AIADMK secured a third consecutive victory.By 1989, the State was plunged into political turmoil. The death of MGR in 1987 resulted in his widow Janaki Ramachandran, and protege J. Jayalalitha heading AIADMK factions. Out of 234 segments, 232 voted on January 21. Polling in Marungapuri and Madurai East was deferred to March 11 due to candidate deaths.Counting for the 232 constituencies was held on January 22 and the DMK returned to power after 13 years.No election in Tamil Nadu carries a more tragic history than 1991. The State was slated to vote on May 26. However, on the night of May 21, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in Sriperumbudur. The Election Commission postponed Tamil Nadu’s polling to June 15. Barring Egmore (SC) and Musuri, 232 segments went for polling and results were declared on June 16. The AIADMK-Congress alliance swept the polls and Jayalalitha became Chief Minister for the first time.The 1996 Assembly election was the last in the State in which ballot papers were used. Polling was held in 150 constituencies on April 27 and in 83 seats on May 2.The results were declared on May 8, with the DMK-TMC alliance securing a landslide victory. Voting in Modakurichi was held only on June 1 as 1,033 candidates had filed their nominations making printing of ballot papers difficult.For the first time in Tamil Nadu’s history, the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were deployed in all the 234 Assembly segments in the 2001 Assembly elections, mirroring simultaneous rollouts in Kerala, Puducherry, and West Bengal. The State went to the polls on May 10 in a single phase, and results were declared on May 13. The AIADMK stormed back to power.The 2006 Assembly elections in the State was held on May 8, when all the 234 Assembly segments went on polling. The results were announced on May 11 and Karunanidhi formed the government with outside support from allies.The longest gap between polling and counting in the State’s electoral history was in 2011. Polling was held on April 13. Since the Election Commission was coordinating multi-state schedules, voters had to wait till May 13 to see Jayalalithaa getting elected. Notably, the DMDK led by actor Vijayakant, whose party aligned with the AIADMK, came second.The 2016 Assembly elections was a multi-cornered battle that saw the AIADMK fielding candidates on its symbol in all 234 seats. In all, 232 seats went to polls on May 16 and when votes were counted on May 19, Jayalalithaa retained power. Voting for Aravakurichi and Thanjavur, where polling was for the first time deferred citing large-scale voter bribery, was held only on November 19.The 2021 Assembly election was fought under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Voters exercised their franchise amidst mandatory safety protocols and extended polling hours. Despite these hurdles, the State recorded 73.63% turnout on April 6. However, the people waited for nearly 26 days as the counting took place only on May 2. This election was symbolic, being the first since the passing of political stalwarts Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi. The DMK clinched 133 seats on its own, while the DMK front won 159 seats. DMK president M.K. Stalin became the Chief Minister.