New Delhi, May 19  (PTI):  The Election Commission (EC) will commence the counting of votes for Assembly polls in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry from 8 am on Thursday.

The entire process is expected to be completed by 3 pm.

Exit polls aired on TV channels on May 16 predicted that Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and Assam have voted for a change, giving the BJP its first government in the north-eastern state.

The DMK has been tipped to regain power trouncing the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, while the CPM-led Left Democratic Front is set to pip the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala. The exit polls stated that only West Bengal will duck the anti-incumbency wave by re-electing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress.

On the other hand, the Congress could take solace from its projected victory in the Union Territory of Puducherry where it is likely to form a government in alliance with the DMK.