Crackers were burst and right hands went up with palms facing front every time a Congress candidate was declared a winner.
On Thursday morning, cadres of all political parties stood waiting outside the barricades that guarded the Government Polytechnic College for Women in Lawspet, where the counting took place . By afternoon, the number of Congress workers swelled.
Along with slogan shouting, there was also a band playing songs from Tamil movies, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The cadres who waited outside the barricades slowly kept shifting the boundaries to reach out to the winners. The celebrations began at 9 a.m. when Congress candidate V.P. Sivakolundhu was leading in the Lawspet constituency. The party workers carried him on their shoulders to their office space near the counting centre.
The counting for 11 constituencies, including Mannadipet, Thirubhuvanai, Ossudu, Mangalam, Villianur, Ozhukarai, Kadirgamam, Indira Nagar, Thattanchavady, Lawspet and Kalapet was held at Government Polytechnic College for Women in Lawspet.
Late in the afternoon, a group of AINRC cadre celebrated the victory of B. Kobiga, who was elected from the Thirubhuvanai constituency.
The most emotional moment was when Congress candidate M.N.R. Balan was declared winner in the Ozhukarai constituency.
The party cadre at the college entrance were crying and hugging the winner as he came out of the counting centre. AINRC leader N. Rangasamy was expected to come to the counting centre to collect the election certificate. However, he did not turn up till the evening.
By 3.45 p.m., the police personnel left the counting centre as the celebrations came to an end.
Both the counting centres in Puducherry wore a deserted look by 4.30 p.m.
