BHOPAL: Witnessing the closest fight in history of Madhya Pradesh assembly elections- both parties took care of even the smallest details during counting. This became a reason for slow counting and delay in results. At around 9.30 pm, election commission had announced results for only 105 constituencies.
CEO VL Kantha Rao explained the delay saying that preparing tabulation sheet after every round and distributing photocopies of it to each candidate was time taking. However, candidates present at the counting centers said that they were taking extra precaution so that no manipulation could affect the result. Congress has deployed an army of lawyers as its counting agents.
Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza called it a precautionary step taken by the Congress. The lawyers, deputed as counting agents are ensuring that EVMs are intact and sealed properly. Next lot of EVMs is not being allowed to come out from strong room unless one round of counting was finished and tabulation sheet is signed. Results were generally declared by afternoon after EVMs were introduced. It is for the first time that results have got delayed to this extent after introduction of EVMs.
