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Lok Sabha Election Results: Counting of votes to decide on ‘Modi versus rest' today

The Election Commission Has Also Set Up 24-hour Control Room To Monitor Complaints Relating To EVMs.

News Nation Bureau New Delhi Updated on: 23 May 2019, 00:08 AM

The counting of votes for the seven-phase elections to India's lower house of parliament, the world's biggest democratic exercise, will take place today, bringing the curtains down on a bitterly-fought contest which the country rarely witnessed.

The counting will begin at 8 am and trends are likely to start coming in by afternoon, while results are expected by the evening, an official said.

For the first time in Lok Sabha polls, the EC will tally vote count on Electronic Voting Machines with voter verified paper audit trail slips in five polling stations in each assembly segment of a parliamentary constituency.  

Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies as the EC had cancelled polls to the Vellore constituency on the ground of excessive use of money power.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several union ministers, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav are among key leaders who contested the polls.

Here are the LIVE updates:

00:26 (IST)

The counting of votes for the high-stakes political battle to elect the seventeenth Lok Sabha will take place today. One of the most bitterly fought elections, spread across seven phases and 38 days, drew a close on May 19. Most of the exit polls have predicted a clear majority for the BJP-led NDA, riding the ‘Modi wave’ like it did in 2014. A poll of nine exit polls has predicted 310 seats for the ruling dispensation.

READ HERE: Lok Sabha Election Results 2019: India awaits verdict on ‘Modi versus rest’ battle as votes count today

21:18 (IST)

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Key contests to watch out for in Chhattisgarh

15:04 (IST)

Maharashtra: Security outside a counting centre in Pune ahead of counting of votes.

14:31 (IST)

Bihar: Security outside a counting centre in AN College, Patna ahead of counting of votes.

13:44 (IST)

Ahead of the day of counting Congress chief Rahul Gandhi advised his party workers to remain alert. Asking them to not be discouraged by the exit poll results, which he termed 'fake', he asked them to believe in the party and themselves. He assured them that their 'hardwork' will not go in vain. 

13:33 (IST)

Election Commission rejects demands of opposition parties' regarding VVPAT.

13:06 (IST)

Supreme Court gives protection from arrest for five days to BJP candidate from Barrackpore constituency in West Bengal, Arjun Singh. A Bench of Justice Arun Mishra &Justice MR Shah grants protection to Singh from arrest in cases registered against him by the West Bengal Police.

13:06 (IST)

Supreme Court gives protection from arrest for five days to BJP candidate from Barrackpore constituency in West Bengal, Arjun Singh. A Bench of Justice Arun Mishra &Justice MR Shah grants protection to Singh from arrest in cases registered against him by the West Bengal Police.

12:45 (IST)

Bhopal Collector S Khade: Three-tier security present at EVM Strong Room. All counting agents,polling agents & candidates to be frisked before entering the area. Movement of EVMs & counting to be done under police presence & CCTV surveillance.

12:25 (IST)

Congress leader Udit Raj: Election process continues for 3 months hampering development work, so what is the big deal if it takes 1-2 days more? I'm not levelling allegations on Supreme Court, I'm only raising concerns.

12:20 (IST)

"On counting day Road no 224 in front of  IIIT, Sector 9, will be closed from 4 am till the closure of counting, from  Sector 8/9 Red light point to 19/20 Red light point. The Residents of Societies situated on both sides of this closed road are requested to carry their identity card/society related documents to gain access and exit from this blocked road. Inconvenience is regretted. All office bearers of MC/RWA are requested to place it on their respective notice board and circulate to concerned Whatsapp groups in Dwarka," ACP Dwarka said in a statement.

12:19 (IST)

Smriti Irani on Twitter: 24 hours to go .. while most of us will be glued to our TV sets tomorrow to watch vote by vote, count by count analysis, here’s taking this opportunity to say thank you for the countless blessings of millions across the Nation for my party and my leadership.

12:15 (IST)

Jaydutt Kshirsagar, NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister, has resigned from MLA post; he will join Shiv Sena later today

12:25 (IST)

'Is SC Invoved in Rigging?' Asks Udit Raj

Congress leader Udit Raj stirred a controversy on Wednesday when he questioned if the Supreme Court was involved in rigging elections and hence did not want all VVPAT slips to be counted. Raj’s statement comes amid a growing demand by the Opposition to verify VVPAT slips of randomly selected polling stations before the counting of votes polled in the just-concluded Lok Sabha election begins on May 23.

11:23 (IST)

NCP MLA Jaydutt Kshirsagar to join Shivsena today. He is sitting MLA from Beed Assembly Constituency. He was a Cabinet Minister in Congress and  NCP governments.

11:14 (IST)

Supreme Court decides to hear a petition filed by BJP Lok Sabha candidate, Arjun Singh, seeking bail in certain political cases in which he claims he is implicated by West Bengal Police, on Wednesday. Senior lawyer Ranjeet Mishra told SC "he fears arrest and thereby seeking a direction for relief in the cases."

11:04 (IST)

Nifty, Sensex edge higher day ahead of Lok Sabha Election results.

10:46 (IST)

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Tuesday said that if he does not win by over three lakh votes in Rampur, his parliamentary constituency, it means that the election was not held in a free and fair manner across India.

10:46 (IST)

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Tuesday said that if he does not win by over three lakh votes in Rampur, his parliamentary constituency, it means that the election was not held in a free and fair manner across India.

10:46 (IST)

Three Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party legislators may join BJP, as per media reports.

10:45 (IST)

The Election Commission to meet in New Delhi to address the concerns raised by leaders of 22 opposition parties, who met the poll panel on Tuesday, voicing their concerns over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and use of VVPATs.

10:39 (IST)

Polling underway at polling station number 200 in North Kolkata parliamentary constituency. ECI had declared void the poll held on 19 May at the polling station.

10:06 (IST)

Jay Panda, BJP on being asked who will be the next Odisha CM: I joined BJP after much soul searching. I'm happy to carry out whatever responsibility the party gives me. BJP has a lot of talent, whosoever takes which ever responsibility, we are going to cooperate with each other.

10:06 (IST)

BJP's Baijayant Jay Panda on being asked if BJD will support NDA: My Party president has said that we are confident of getting more than 300 seats. We'll form the govt with NDA allies. If other parties seeing the national mood want to also join in, I think, BJP will keep an open mind

09:51 (IST)

NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Jaydutt Kshirsagar set to join Shiv Sena today, reports ANI.

09:35 (IST)

Polling is underway at Amritsar constituency's Polling Booth No. 123 of Rajasansi assembly constituency

Polling is underway at Amritsar constituency's Polling Booth No. 123 of Rajasansi assembly constituency. The Election Commission of India ordered the re-poll on Monday. Voting will continue from 7 am to 6 pm. The voters are being given 'certificate of appreciation' by the Election Commission.

09:07 (IST)

Heavy security deployment in Kolkata ahead of counting day

On counting day, the Kolkata Police will deploy 4,000 security personnel in the city. As many as 200 companies of central forces have also been deployed inside the counting centres. The joint forces will remain active in order to curb any violence. Sensitive areas are also under surveillance. Kolkata armed police along with city police will be posted outside the main gate of the counting centre. Counting of votes will take place at 13 locations in Kolkata.

09:37 (IST)

In less than 24 hours, counting for 542 Lok Sabha seats will begin across the country. Central paramilitary forces have been deployed for security of strong rooms in which the EVMs have been kept. The Election Commission has also set up 24-hour Control Room to monitor complaints relating to EVMs.

08:40 (IST)

Thomas Isaac had reportedly alleged that Pillai is making use of his position as BJP state president to sabotage development in Kerala & had said that "Sreedharan Pillai, who tried to disrupt development of National Highway in Kerala should be treated as a public enemy of state."

08:40 (IST)

BJP Kerala unit president PS Sreedharan Pillai: Kerala BJP has decided to sue and prosecute Finance Minister Thomas Isaac of CPM for a defamatory statement he made on May 6. I have claimed Rs 10 cr as compensation besides seeking criminal prosecution against Isaac.

07:04 (IST)

He had told PTI that Sonia Gandhi will play a crucial role in bringing non-NDA parties together and in the formation of the next government.

07:04 (IST)

Congress President Rahul Gandhi will meet with some seniors leader. Rahul Gandhi has said his party will use the experience of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh to their advantage.

07:04 (IST)

Barely two days before the Lok Sabha vote count, a political row erupted Tuesday over reports of alleged tampering of EVMs and a concerned former President Pranab Mukherjee also stepped in to say the onus is on the Election Commission to put all speculation around these voting machines to rest. 

07:03 (IST)

Election Commission of India: A 24-hour EVM Control Room has been made functional at Nirvachan Sadan to monitor complaints relating to polled EVMs. Any complaints during counting related to EVMs can be informed at control room number is 011-23052123.

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First Published : 22 May 2019, 07:01 AM

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