Counting of votes in the nearly month-long Lok Sabha elections has begun in the world's largest democracy on May 16 at 4260 halls in 1080 centres across the country. Nearly 60,000 personnel would manage the nationwide counting process, which is going on in 28 states and seven union territories.
A little more than half of the 71.38 crore registered voters had cast their votes through electronic voting machines in the election process that began on April 16 and ended on May 13.
Overall, 8070 candidates from 46 national and state parties contested the elections to 543 Lok Sabha seats, with two seats reserved for the Anglo-Indian community. A party or combine needs 272 seats in the 545-member Lok Sabha to form a government.
Along with the Lok Sabha, elections to the state assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim are also held alongside and the results would be announced during the day.
According to the current election results trend, the ruling party Congress is leading in 202 constituencies, with BJP falling behind at 132 and left leading in 32 constituencies.
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