Vote count begins in four states

Officials Sunday began counting the millions of votes cast in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Delhi in keenly fought elections tipped to impact the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Around 83 million voters exercised their franchise in the November-December elections.

The counting process began in hundreds of centres spread across the four states, eagerly watched by candidates and their representatives, officials said.

In Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the contest is mainly between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has made it a triangular fight in Delhi.

The vote count for Mizoram, which also went to the polls, will take place Monday.