Fingers crossed as counting of votes begins

Amidst elaborate security arrangements counting of votes for the 539 Lok Sabha started at 0800 IST, Thursday.

The counting will be held in over 1,200 centres spread over 855 cities.

Out of the 543 parliamentary constituencies, counting will not take place in the four seats of Outer Manipur, Chhapra, Bettiah and Siwan [the last three being in Bihar].

The Election Commission countermanded the election in Chhapra following complaints of large-scale rigging. It also ordered extensive re-polling in many booths in Bettiah and Siwan.

Counting of votes for the assembly polls in Karnataka, Orissa and Sikkim will also be taken up simultaneously and the results will be available by midday.