It's D-Day! The Lok Sabha Elections 2019 results will be declared today. Counting of votes will begin at 8 am at all counting centres across India. The fate of over 8,000 candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC) and other parties were decided by voters between April 11 and May 19. The exit polls have predicted a clear majority for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with some even saying that the coalition could get more than 350 seats. However, the Opposition parties have dismissed all post-poll survey saying they were confident of winning. Lok Sabha Elections Results 2019: No Change in Procedure For Counting of Votes, EC Rejects Opposition's Demand to Count VVPAT Slips First.
As per the exit polls, some of the key states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and even Delhi have been predicted to be going to the BJP. Some exit polls have also predicted more than 20 seats for the BJP in West Bengal. All eyes will be on whether the poll pundits have gotten these big predictions right. Catch complete coverage of Lok Sabha Elections 2019 here.
Security has been tightened across strongrooms where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been kept. There is also tight security deployed outside counting centres across the country. This is for the first time in a Lok Sabha election that results of EVMs will be matched with slips generated by paper trail machines. This will take place in five polling stations per assembly segment. Out of nearly 10.3 lakh polling stations, the EVM-VVPAT matching will take place in 20600 such stations. Exit Poll Results By All Channels For Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Aayega To Modi Hi, Say Predictions; NDA Projected To Win More Than 300 Seats.
Watch: How to Check Live Results of Lok Sabha Elections 2019
A total voter turnout of 67.11 per cent was recorded in the seven-phase elections. Voting was held between Aprill 11 and May 19. The complete declaration of results is expected only by late evening due to tallying of VVPAT slips with EVM count for the first time.
On Tuesday, leaders of 22 Opposition parties met the EC demanding that the VVPAT slips be counted before the EVM votes. The parties had demanded this citing concerns over alleged EVM tampering. However, the demand made by the parties was rejected by the EC on Wednesday, saying that no changes will be made to the counting process.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has alerted the State Chief Secretaries and DGPs regarding the possibility of eruption of violence in different parts of the country in connection with the counting of votes. The MHA has asked the States and UTs to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquility.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, the BJP had won 282 seats on its own and Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India. Will Modi return as the Prime Minister or will it be a surprise? Stay with LatestLY for all the updates on Lok Sabha Elections 2019.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 23, 2019 12:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).