All geared up for counting of votes for 5 states

Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram are all geared up for tomorrow's counting of votes for Assembly elections.

In Chhattisgarh, counting centers have been set up in all the 27 district headquarters of the state. According to reports, elaborate security arrangements have been made in Maoist-affected areas. Three layer security arrangement is in place at the counting centers. More than five thousand employees and one thousand five hundred micro observers have been deployed for the counting process.

Counting will start at 8.00 AM on Tuesday and first postal ballot will be counted after which counting from EVMs will be held from 8.30 am. The Election Commission has directed that the counting of the next round will not start till the counting of the first round ends and its results are displayed. Videography of counting and tabulation will be dome while transportation of EVMs from Strong room to Counting hall would be monitored through CCTV cameras.

In Madhya Pradesh, the entire counting process will be video-graphed. Over 75 per cent polling was recorded in the state on the 28th of last month. Our correspondent reports that the counting of votes will be done in 306 counting rooms.

One table for postal ballots along with 14 tables will be set up for counting of votes. About 14 thousand 600 counting personnel along with reserve staff will be deployed for the counting of votes. The counting will begin by the postal ballots. After 30 minutes of counting of the postal ballots, counting will start from EVMs. The result of counting of each phase will be given to the counting agent and its calculation sheet will be given to the calculation agents appointed on the returning officer's table.

In Telangana, counting centres have been set up at 43 locations most of which are at district headquarters. The EVMs are kept under three-tier security. Tight vigil and CCTV camera surveillance is being maintained. 73.2 per cent polling was recorded in Friday's polling.

In Mizoram, where polling was held on the 28th of last month, counting will be held in 40 counting halls spreading 13 counting centres. To supervise the counting process, observers and micro-observers will be deployed in all counting centres.

Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Lalchhuangkima said all preparations are put in place for counting of votes, polled in 1,179 polling stations. The administration has issued order of ban on selling of liquor for three days from today.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made across the state, particularly in and around counting centres. As per the Election Commission guidelines, postal ballots will be first taken up for counting followed by counting of votes polled into EVMs.

In Rajasthan, voting was held on Friday in 199 of the total 200 constituencies. Election to Alwar district's Ramgarh seat was countermanded due to the death of a BSP candidate.

Meanwhile, re-polling at one polling station in Karanpur seat of Sriganganagar district is being held today. The Election Commission had re-polling following complaints of irregularities during the polls.