Vote count begins across India

Vote count begins across IndiaNew Delhi, May 16 : Counting of votes for the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies began across the country on Saturday.

Counting began at 8:00 a. m. in all 28 states and seven union territories. Votes polled in elections to state assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim are also being counted simultaneously.

The results are expected to decide the fate of 8,070 contestants, including 556 women.

Around 1,080 counting centres have been set up across 28 states and seven union territories with 4,260 counting halls.

Early trends are expected in about an hour at around 9:00 a. m. while the first results are expected at around 11:00 a. m.

A little over half of the 71.377 crore registered voters cast their ballots through Electronic Voting Machines in the five-phased elections that began on April 16 and ended on May 13.

Residents here were echoing the sentiments being aired by the experts on television channels and newspapers.

"It would be difficult for the country as a whole in a coalition government since every party has its own agenda. They will press for their individual agenda to be followed, which would not be good while taking decisions as one for the nation," said B. A. Saxena, a resident.

However, some felt that this election reflected people''s new-found seriousness towards politics.

"Earlier, people used to just cast their vote and think they have done their duty. But it is not the same this time. This time people have thought before casting their vote. This time they have contributed in the development of the county, the way people did 60 years back to get the independence for the country. I think people have united this time to make the country stronger," said Shabnam, another resident.

"As of now it seems that another coalition government will come to power and this is right too. As in coalition government, everybody has their own share of responsibility and answerability -- unlike in the last 50 years when only the Congress Party was blamed for everything right or wrong. In coalition government, everyone is responsible and answerable for every decision and the result also reflects the combine responsibility," said Rohit Gautam, a resident.

The Election Commission has deployed 60,000 counting staff for the purpose.

The Commission has also made arrangements for the media to acquire details of every round of counting to them through its websites www. eciresults. nic. in. (ANI)