Bhopal, Dec 3 (UNI) The ruling BJP has surged ahead in 130 constituencies, with the principal opposition Congress leading in 90 seats after initial rounds of counting for the 230-seat Madhya Pradesh Assembly, which had gone to the polls on November 17.
As per the established protocol, postal ballots were taken up first.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is ahead of the pack in Budhni. Other prominent political figures in the lead are BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya (Indore-1), state Minister Rajendra Shukla (Rewa) and Congress state head and erstwhile Chief Minister Kamal Nath (Chhindwara).
Counting of votes commenced at 52 district headquarters early Sunday for revealing the electoral fortunes of 2,533 candidates including 252 women who are in the fray for formation of a New House.
It was officially learnt that three-tier security arrangements are in place and randomisation of counting personnel was also three-tier.
Observers have been appointed by the Election Commission and media centres set up. Apart from observers, no individual is permitted to carry cellular phones into the counting halls.
Subsequent to the completion of each round, the result of that round will be announced. A total 51,259 voters above 80 years of age and 12,093 differently-able ones exercised their franchise from their respective dwellings.
As many as 4,369 tables have been placed for electronic voting machines and 692 for postal votes. The results will be displayed on the ECI website https://results.eci.gov.in and ceomadhyapradesh.nic.in besides the Voter Helpline app.
The turnout was 77.82 percent during the single-phase voting on November 17 as compared to 75.63 percent in 2018.
The ruling BJP and the principal-opposition Congress fielded their representatives for all seats whereas other figures included Bahujan Samaj Party 181; Samajwadi Party 71 and 1,166 independents. An electorate exceeding 5.60 crore – including more than 2.71 crore women and 1,292 of the third gender – were eligible to participate in the democratic exercise.
