Campaigning for the 2016 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections ended at 6.00 PM today. All eyes are now set on the results of the elections, which will be announced on May 19.

On May 16, nearly 5.9 crore voters will decide the fate of the 3,776 candidates, of which 320 (less than 10 percent) were women.

The election is special for a number of reasons. Probably for the first time in the history of Tamil Nadu, the state is all set to witness a multi-cornered contest with six parties in the fray – the AIADMK (J. Jayalalithaa), DMK (M. Karunanidhi), the DMDK-PWF-TMC alliance (Vijayakanth), PMK (Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss), BJP and its allies, and Naam Tamizhar. Although observers welcome the multiple options, many believe that it will be another five years at least before the other players start making a serious impact on the political scenario in the state.

While the AIADMK is keen on recreating history by getting a second term, it is a make-or-break election for the DMK, which is currently plagued by family squabbles between siblings Stalin and Azhagiri. For the first time, the AIADMK is contesting in all the 234 seats.

While corruption and non-deliverance of promises are the main charges against the AIADMK, the ghosts of 2G scams and the Sri Lankan Tamil debacle continue to haunt the DMK-Congress alliance.

Among the major issues highlighted in the manifestos of all the parties are Prohibition and cancelling of loans to the farmers.

Some of the biggest names in Indian politics, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and the most visible faces of the central cabinet descended on Tamil Nadu to campaign for their respective parties.

‘Change’ seems to be the most popular word in the media this time, with the DMDK-PWF-TMC, PMK, and the BJP repeating it over and over again.

As far as campaigning style goes, while most preferred the tried-and-tested modes of door-to-door canvassing, the PMK went hi-tech with its digital screen stages and campaign styles.

In its bid to prevent vote-for-money accusations, the Election Commission was more than alert this time, with dedicated officials not sparing even the container trucks that were carrying money from one SBI branch to the other!

But, in all, the campaign was peaceful and generally uneventful this time.