The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for counting of votes for four Assembly elections tomorrow. Polling was held in two phases in Chhattisgarh while Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi went to polls in a single phase.
The polling process came to an end Wednesday last. Counting of votes for Mizoram Assembly election will be taken up on Monday.
AIR correspondents report that the counting is scheduled to start at eight in the morning and early trends are expected by 8:30 am In Delhi a total of 810 candidates are in fray for 70
seats.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is seeking a record fourth term victory from New Delhi constituency where she is facing a tough battle from Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal and BJP leader Vijendra Gupta.
BJP Chief Ministerial candidate Dr. Harshvardhan is seeking his fifth term form Krishna Nagar seat.
AIR correspondent reports that highest ever voting turn out of about 66 percent was recorded in the polling held on Wednesday.
In Madhya Pradesh, tight security have been made in all the 51 district headquarters.
AIR correspondent reports that the Office of Chief Electoral Officer has appointed 102 engineers in counting venues to maintain EVMs during counting. Entire counting process will be video-graphed.
In Rajasthan, counting of votes polled for 199 constituencies will take place. Elaborate security arrangements have been made at all 37 counting centres in the State.
Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, State BJP President Vasundra Raje, Chairperson of
National Women Commission Mamta Sharma are the prominent candidates whose election fate will be decided tomorrow. Total 2,087 candidates are in the fray. Polling for Churu assembly constituency was postponed due to death of BSP candidate. Polling in Churu will take place on 13th December.
Preparations have been completed for counting of votes in Chattisgarh tomorrow. Counting centers have been made in all the 27 district headquarters and elaborate security arrangements have been made in Maoist affected areas. AIR Correspondent reports that the State Election Commission has directed to count postal ballots along with the counting of votes polled through EVMs. Videography of counting would also been done by the Election Commission. In the 90 member state assembly, a record 77 per cent votes have been polled this time.
In the last assembly elections of 2008, the fate of the winning party was decided by a difference of only 1.5 per cent votes polled. In such a close contest, about 70 thousand postal ballot would play an important role not only for the Congress and the BJP but for all other political parties in the fray. Keeping in view Congress party’s doubt of feared manipulation in postal ballots, the State Election Commission has issued special guidelines and instructed observers to keep an eye on the counting of such ballots. Besides, counting of postal ballots would be completed before the counting of EVMs.
