Ranchi, May 21: Though the four-phased Lok Sabha Elections 2019 ended in Jharkhand on Sunday, the declaration of results for 14 parliamentary seats might be delayed by three to four hours on Thursday. The latest information comes amid the controversy of opposition demanding 100 per cent counting of VVPAT slips on the result day.

According to the information, the counting of the votes polled in the last four phases for Jharkhand will begin from 8 am onwards on May 23. However, due to the Supreme Court guidelines, the Election Commission would also be counting the voter verified paper audit trail (VVPAT), said an official, reports the Hindustan Times.  EVM Row: Fresh Plea Seeking 100% VVPAT Count Rejected by Supreme Court 

Informing more, Vinay Kumar Choubey, additional chief electoral officer (ACEO) said, as the daily quotes, "Five booths will be selected randomly from each assembly segment of 14 parliamentary constituencies. After counting of votes cast via Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), VVPATs of these booths would be counted."

Adding more, Choubey stated that VVPAT counting in each booth would take an additional 40-45 minutes, which clearly means counting of VVPATs in five booths would take more than three hours. With 81 assembly segments spread across 14 parliamentary constituencies, 405 VVPATs would be counted in Jharkhand.

Briefing about the process of counting VVPAT slips, Choubey said that first the total number of booths in an assembly segment would be written on slips. Then they would be mixed presence of officials and agents from different political parties in a box. The final process of selecting the assembly would be done by choosing five random numbers and they would be counted. It is to be known that EC has deployed 8,000 poll officials across 14 parliamentary constituencies for counting duties. EVMs Can Be Manipulated, VVPAT Slips Should Be Used as Ballot Paper: Chandrababu Naidu

Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected the move for 100 per cent VVPAT count. The apex court had rejected a similar petition last month, which was appealed by 21 parties of the Opposition camp. Now the counting of votes would take place on May 23.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 21, 2019 03:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).