Chennai | Jagran News Desk: The counting of votes for the Tamil Nadu local body elections is underway and results are expected to be announced by Friday afternoon or evening. According to the latest reports, MK Stalin-led DMK is leading on both Panchayat Union Ward and District Panchayat ward. In Panchayat Union Ward, the DMK is leading on 713 seats while on District Panchayats, it is leading on 143 seats. The ADIAMK is leading on 551 and 122 seats respectively on the Panchayat Union Ward and District Panchayats.

The local body elections in in Tamil Nadu, held on 27 districts, were conducted on two phases -- December 27 and 30. According to the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (TNSEC), the first phase saw a turnout of 76.19 per cent while there was a turnout of 77.73 per cent in the second phase.

Here are the latest updates of the counting of votes:

17:09 pm: Counting of votes completed for 5031 Panchayat Union Ward Member candidates, 506 District Panchayat Ward Member candidates

16:18 pm: People's power can overcome any anarchy and unscrupulous activities. The results are a testament that people believe in DMK. The elected local representatives of the DMK alliance will serve the people better and honest. The local body elections should be held in 2016 itself, but due to fear of facing the public, the AIADMK government kept postponing it. The election commission was forced to conduct the elections because of the stringent instructions from the judiciary. DMK candidates were leading in the votes right from the start and the AIADMK couldn't resist that. With the help of EC, they tried all the malpractices to deny our victory. I approached the EC Yesterday at 2 pm and asked them why they were delaying to announce the winners and asked if they are scared of Chief Minister? I went there again at 11 pm to report the irregularities in the counting process, but they ignored us. Despite all these odds, DMK has emerged victorious. I assure you that the elected DMK and our alliance representatives will towards the welfare of the people, they will put an end to humongous corruption happening in the local bodies: DMK leader MK Stalin

15:13 pm: The DMK is maintaining a strong lead in the battle for seats for Panchayat Union Ward Member and District Panchayat Ward Member.

District Panchayat leads:
DMK - 260, AIADMK - 240, Others - 3

Panchayat union leads:
DMK - 2330, AIADMK - 2165, Others - 536

13:45 pm: Counting of votes completed for 4937 Panchayat Union Ward Member candidates, 503 District Panchayat Ward Member candidates

12:54 pm: DMK and their alliance partners made false propaganda about CAA in the minority populated areas. People believed CAA will affect them and that's the reason they didn't vote for our party: Former AIADMK MP Anwhar Raajhaa told reporters

12:01 pm: Irrespective of the poll outcome, we bow our head and accept the people's mandate, says Deputy Chief Minister O. Pannerselvam

11:42 am: The first phase of polling was held on December 27, 2019, for 1,546 posts in Ramanathapuram, Thirupullani, mandapam, RS Mangalam, and Thiruvadanai, while the second phase of the elections was held on December 30, 2019, for 2,144 seats in the areas of Paramakudi, Bogalur, Nainargovil, Mudukulathur, Kamudi, and Kadaladi.

10:43 am: Counting of votes for the Panchayat Union Ward members for 4548 candidates have been completed out of 5067 posts. 

9:20 am: Meanwhile, the counting of votes for the post of District Panchayat Ward Member has been completed for 449 candidates out of 515.

9:02 am: The counting of votes have been completed for the post of Panchayat Union Ward members.

8:15 am: The scales have tipped in favour of DMK as it leads the battle for seats for Panchayat Union Ward Member and Dsitrict Panchayat Ward Member.

District Panchayat leads:
DMK - 143, AIADMK - 122, Others - 0

Panchayat union leads:
DMK - 713, AIADMK - 551, Others - 47

8:00 am: According to the latest reports, MK Stalin-led DMK is leading on both Panchayat Union Ward and District Panchayat ward.