The much awaited counting of votes in Telangana and four other States – Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram – is to commence in half-an-hour’s time from now.

Counting of votes of the Assembly polls in all the five States – held during the past three weeks under various phases including Telangana which voted last Friday – would be taken up from 08:00 a.m. on Tuesday (11th December).  Polls were held in November and December in all these States.  Chattisgarh voted in two phases on 12th and 20th November.  Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram voted on 28th November while Telengana and Rajasthan voted on 07th December.

All security arrangements have been put in place in all the States where counting of votes commences this morning.  As is mandatory, postal ballots would be counted first and would be followed by the votes registered via the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).  Election Commission of India has made adequate arrangements to update the counting’s progess on its web-site almost non-stop for 24 hours.  A trend islikely to emerge in all the States by 11:00 a.m. as to who would form the next Govt.

Results are likely to be announced officially by evening/night in all the States.  BJP faces an acid test today, ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha polls, as it is the ruling party in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and is under pressure to retain power in these States.