Counting begins in Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir

Counting of votes for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly began in 24 centres across the state today amid tight security. There are 1,312 counting tables, besides 83 tables for assistant returning officers, an Election Commission release said here. The process began at 7 AM and the actual counting started an hour later. Deogarh constituency would have the maximum rounds of 31 and Chakradharpur the minimum with 10 rounds. The nearly four-week long elections to the Assembly concluded on December 20 to decide its fate after two previous voters' verdict throwing a hung House. A record 66.47 per cent polling had been registered in the five-phase polling, which began on November 25. Chief Minister Hemant Soren (JMM -Dumka and Barhait seats) and ex-CMs Arjun Munda (BJP-Kharsawan), Madhu Koda (Jai Bharat Samanta Party-Majhgaon) and Babulal Marandi (Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Dhanwar-Giridih) are among the total 1,136 candidates, including 111 women, who contested the polls. Other prominent candidates in the fray were Speaker Shashank Sekhar Bhokta (JMM) from Sarath and ex-Speaker C P Singh (BJP) from Ranchi. J&K Counting of votes for the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly began today amid tight security at various centres set up by the Election authorities. Counting centres have been set up at all 22 district headquarters of the state while additional counting centres have been set up in constituencies which have been cut off by snow or inclement weather, officials said. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the counting process with police and paramilitary personnel deployed in strength around the counting centres and in some parts of the city. A strategy has been put in place to deal with any law and order problem which may arise during or after?the counting. The early trends are expected in 30 to 45 minutes, the officials said. A total of 821 candidates, including 276 independents, contested the elections. The voter turnout in the state this year was 65 per cent which was 4 per cent more than the last Assembly elections held in 2008?development which has generated hope as well as anxiety among all major political parties. While the ruling National Conference is claiming that higher voter turnout will benefit it at the hustings, PDP and BJP are maintaining that it is a reflection of the people's desire for a change. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Opposition PDP's chief ministerial candidate Mufti Muhammad Sayeed are among the 821 candidates, who are seeking election from the 87 constituencies.