 "Politicians seek divine intervention ahead of Assembly polls results")
Ahead of counting of votes to decide political fate of five states, candidates were seen resorting to different means to calm their nerves on Thursday morning.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s chief ministerial candidate in Assam Sarbananda Sonowal offered prayers at the Uttar Kamalabari Satra Temple in Majuli, while Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was seen at the St. John's Church in Thiruvananthapuram.
Meanwhile, BJP's Trivandrum candidate Sreesanth was confident of his party bagging 30-35 seats in Kerala.
"We should be able to get 30 to 35 seats hopefully and mark our entry in Kerala," the former cricketer told ANI.
Assam's regional party AIUDF's chief Badruddin Ajmal chose to disagree with the exit poll results and expressed confidence of his party winning as many as 30-40 seats.
"Exit polls were wrong, we will get 30 to 40 seats. I am confident... Like Bihar, BJP will only celebrate for first two hours, after that when picture gets clear we will celebrate," he said.
The BJP earlier on Monday ruled out joining hands with Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF to form a government in Assam and claimed it would get absolute majority alone and two-thirds seats with its alliance partners. BJP fought the elections to the 126-member Assam Assembly along with AGP and Bodoland People's Front.
The counting of votes for the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry would be held today amid stringent arrangements made by the Election Commission.
Although the final picture would be clear only by noon, early trends are likely to emerge as soo as the counting starts at 8 a.m. Election Commission has reportedly said counting of votes will be over by 3 p.m.
Exits polls have predicted an edge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam, while an outright win for incumbent Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal.
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