LS polls: Postal ballots being counted; here's the updates from states!

New Delhi: Around 642 million people voted in Lok Sabha elections held over seven phases in a mammoth six-week period. The counting of votes began starting with postal ballot papers amid tight security

The counting for State Legislative Assemblies of 175 Assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh and 147 Assembly constituencies in Odisha and results of bypolls in 25 Assembly constituencies also began.

Strict security has been put in place for the smooth conduct of counting of votes for over 8,000 candidates in this general election.

As counting began for the Lok Sabha elections, which have seen the largest voter participation, the electoral fate of several leaders across the political spectrum will be decided.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are among the senior BJP leaders in the fray.

Key opposition leaders, including former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP's Supriya Sule, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, are also contesting the poll.

Two polls predicted the BJP would also improve its numbers from the 303 seats it won in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

In the 2019 elections, NDA wrested 353 seats, of which the BJP won 303 alone. The Opposition's UPA got only 93 seats of which the Congress got 52.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is eyeing a third straight term in power, while the Opposition under the umbrella of the INDIA bloc is seeking to wrest power from the ruling party.

Meanwhile, all the exit polls have predicted the BJP returning to power with a resounding majority, with further inroads in Odisha, West Bengal, and southern states.

The Lok Sabha elections for 543 seats of the lower house were held across seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on Tuesday, June 4.

The Lok Sabha elections were conducted in seven phases- on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1.

Tripura

Counting of votes began for two Lok Sabha constituencies in Tripura on Tuesday morning, officials said.

Polling was held for the two seats on April 19 and 26. 

Jammu and Udhampur 

The counting of votes for the Jammu and Udhampur parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir began on Tuesday amid a three-tier security cordon and extensive camera surveillance at counting centres.

Thera are 34 candidates, including senior BJP leader and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Jammu MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, and former ministers Choudhary Lal Singh and Raman Bhalla of the Congress, in the fray from these constituencies.

The counting will take place at the Polytechnic College and M.A.M. College in Jammu, while the Government Degree College Kathua will serve as the counting centre for the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat. Each centre is equipped with multi-tier security and round-the-clock CCTV surveillance.

CCTV cameras and videography arrangements are in place at the counting centres.

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Counting of votes began for the lone Lok Sabha constituency in Andaman & Nicobar Islands on Tuesday morning, officials said.

Polling was held for that seat on April 19. 

Meghalaya

Counting of votes began for two Lok Sabha constituencies in Meghalaya on Tuesday morning, officials said.

Polling was held for the Shillong and Tura seats on April 19.

Counting of votes begins for 2 Lok Sabha seats in Goa

The counting of votes for the two Lok Sabha seats in Goa began Tuesday morning, with the ruling BJP engaged in a straight fight with the Congress, which currently holds one of the seats.

The counting of votes began at 8 am, an election official said. Polling for the two seats, North Goa and South Goa, was held in a single phase on May 7. North Goa recorded 76.34 per cent voter turnout and South Goa saw 73 per cent voters exercising their franchise. Eight candidates contested from each seat. The BJP has been in power in the coastal state since 2012. The counting of votes for North Goa seat is being held at Government Polytechnic College, Altinho at Panaji, while for South Goa, it is being held at Damodar College, Comba in Margao. North Goa has sitting BJP MP Shripad Naik taking on Congress candidate former Union minister Ramakant Khalap, while the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), a new regional outfit, fielded its chief Manoj Parab. In South Goa, the Congress denied a ticket to its sitting MP Francisco Sardinha and fielded Viriato Fernandes against businesswoman Pallavi Dempo, who is making her political debut as a BJP nominee. The RGP has fielded Rubert Pereira from the constituency. North Goa has 157 tables for counting, while the figure is 161 for South Goa. As many as 236 micro observers have been deployed for counting of votes in North Goa and 242 for South Goa, the official said. (With inputs from agencies)