States » East » CAEPosted at: May 23 2019 8:19AM Counting of votes for Lok Sabha elections begins in Bihar amid tight securityPatna, May 23 (UNI) Counting of votes for Lok Sabha elections today began at 8 AM in all 40 seats in Bihar amid fool proof security arrangements. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Kumar Singh said that counting of votes began at 8 AM at counting centres specially prepared for the purpose across the state. Tight security arrangements had been made around all the counting centres to prevent any untoward incident between supporters of various political parties during the counting, he added."At every counting centre, 14 counting tables for every assembly segment of a particular Lok Sabha seat have been arranged", Mr Singh said, adding that counting observers have been deputed for every table to supervise the counting process in accordance with guidelines of Election Commission. Counting of postal ballot papers and votes polled in EVMs would begin together as service electors had cast their votes through Electronic Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) in this Lok Sabha elections, he added."Earlier, postal ballots used to be counted before counting of votes polled in EVMs but the new system of ETBPS has made it possible to ensure counting together of postal ballots and votes polled in EVMs", Mr Singh said adding that the trend of counting of votes would be available by 9 AM. After every round of counting, votes polled in favour of candidates would be made available to Assistant Electoral Officer to compile the same and prepare details of total number of votes polled in favour of each candidate, he informed.Additional Chief Electoral Officer said that counting of votes for Assembly by-elections held in Nawada and Dehri constituencies were also being done along with counting of votes of Lok Sabha elections. After completion of the counting process, votes polled in EVMs would be matched with slips of five VVPATs in every assembly segment of Lok Sabha seat which could slightly delay in declaration of results, he added."Election Commission would formally announce the name of candidates emerged victorious from various Lok Sabha seats", Mr Singh said, adding that all results were expected to be available by 2 PM while formal announcement would be made after completing required formalities by 4 PM. On the directive of Chief Electoral Officer, all EVMs would be sealed after completion of counting process and separate teams had been constituted for the purpose, he added. Prominent candidates whose fates would be decided are former Bihar Chief Minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi, former Union Minister Sharad Yadav, Union Ministers Ravishankar Prasad, Ramkripal Yadav, R K Singh, Giriraj Singh, Radha Mohan Singh, firebrand CPI leader and former president of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students Union Kanhaiya Kumar, former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, Bihar Water Resources Minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and president of Bihar unit of BJP Nityanand Rai.Other prominent candidates whose fates would also be decided are -- former Union Ministers Rajeev Pratap Rudy, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, film star Shatughna Sinha, former Speaker of Lok Sabha Meira Kumar and Misa Bharti, daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad.UNI KKS DH RD RNTags: #Counting of votes for Lok Sabha elections begins in Bihar amid tight security