As Kerala prepares for the counting of votes in the assembly elections, political parties are in a celebratory mood. In Pandikkad, Malappuram district, Congress and United Democratic Front (UDF) workers are cooking biryani for nearly 5,000 people in anticipation of a victory. They have set up a large tent for food distribution and plan cultural programs to mark what they expect to be a significant win. Congress leader Manakkad Suresh expressed confidence that the UDF will secure a clear majority by noon on Monday. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is also preparing for celebrations in Kochi, ordering large quantities of laddoos and hoping to win seats in key constituencies like Nemom and Kazhakootam. The Election Commission has deployed over 15,000 personnel for the counting process, which will begin at 8 am on Monday, amid tight security. With exit polls indicating a close contest between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the UDF, Kerala awaits a decisive verdict.