The result of the municipal election 2017 will be declared on April 26. At least two exit polls have indicated that the Bharatiya Janata Party may win the election by a landslide with AAP and Congress struggling for a distant second spot. Before the choice made by Delhi becomes clear, here are five things to know about the counting process that starts early tomorrow.
1. Counting begins: The counting votes polled in 270 wards will start at 8 am on Wednesday. Polling in two other wards – Sarai Pipal Thala and Maujpur – was put off till next month after the death of two candidates.
2. Early trends: Though the result will be declared by the state election commission only after 5 pm, early trends should be available by 11 am. The winner, if there is no fractured mandate, should be clear by 2 pm.
3. Counting venues: Votes will be counted at 35 centres across the city. Of these, 16 will are in north Delhi, 13 in the south and six in east Delhi.
4. Regular updates: Counting updates will be relayed from the centres to the Delhi State Election Commission office located in Kashmere Gate. Large screens installed there will display the updates for the media to disseminate to the public.
5. Security arrangement: Over 90,000 security personnel belonging to Delhi Police, paramilitary forces and the Home Guards will keep a watch at the counting centres. Wednesday will be a dry day.
