Counting of votes begin

Counting of votes polled in the 15th Lok Sabha elections began today at over 4,000 counting halls across the country during which the fate of 8,070 candidates will be known.  

Counting began at 0800 hrs in all 28 states and seven union territories. 

Votes polled in elections to state assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim are also being counted simultaneously.  

A party or combine needs 272 seats in the 545-member Lok Sabha to form a government.  

Counting began at 4,260 halls in 1,080 centres across the country and would be managed by nearly 60,000 personnel. A little over half of the 71.377 crore registered voters cast their ballots through Electronic Voting Machines in the five-phased elections that began on April 16 and ended on May 13.  

In all, 8,070 candidates, including from 46 national, and state parties, contested in the elections to 543 LS seats. Two members are nominated from Anglo-Indian community.  

The Election Commission has launched a special website www.eciresults.nic.in to make the results available instantly.  

In addition to the trends and results being made available on the website, large display boards have been put up in front of the Commission's headquarters - 'Nirvachan Sadan' - in Delhi for the benefit of the public.