Assembly polls results: Counting of votes begins in Delhi

The counting of votes for the high-profile Delhi Assembly polls where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are locked in a direct contest has begun amid tight security arrangements.

The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the counting of votes. Counting is taking place at 14 centres in nine districts of the national capital.

The entire process of counting will be video graphed.

A three-tier security has been put in place at all the 14 counting centres.

Five out of seven exit polls have predicted that the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP may return to power once again in the national capital, with the second place for the BJP. The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years, has been placed at a distant third.

A voter turnout of 67.08 percent was recorded in the polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly. A total of 673 candidates are in the fray this time.

The maximum candidates to participate in the democratic process were recorded from the Burari constituency with 18 contenders fighting it out. The Ambedkar Nagar constituency had the lowest number of candidates at four.

Of the candidates, 296 belong to recognised national and state parties, with a further 183 contenders belonging to registered parties. The remaining 194 candidates are standing as independents.

Less than 10 percent of the candidates - only 63 - are women.