Lok Sabha election results: Counting of votes to begin at 8am tomorrow
A security jawan stands guard as voters wait to cast their votes at a polling station, during the sixth phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, at Chaibasa in West Singhbhum district. Photograph: (PTI)
Key Updates
22 May 2019, 10:37 PM (IST)
TMC asks workers to guard strongrooms
The Trinamool Congress leadership has asked its workers in West Bengal to guard strongrooms in their respective areas, fearing that the BJP might try to smuggle out EVMs, TMC leaders said on Wednesday.
"We have asked our cadres to be on high alert and guard strongrooms in their respective areas... So that the BJP can't indulge in any sort of mischief," a senior TMC leader said.
22 May 2019, 9:48 PM (IST)
Opposition raising questions on EVM as it is rattled by likely defeat: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah Wednesday accused the Opposition of "disrespecting" people's mandate by raising doubts on electronic voting machines and said it is "tarnishing" Indian democracy as it is rattled by its "likely defeat" in Lok Sabha elections.
22 May 2019, 9:13 PM (IST)
Odisha: Congress concedes defeat before counting of votes
A day before the counting of votes take place, Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik Wednesday conceded that the party will not be able to form a government on its own in the state and may lose opposition status also.
Patnaik's statement indicated that its straight fight between the BJD and the BJP in Odisha, a state where Congress had its government for several times in the past and where it is principal opposition to the Naveen Patnaik headed party for previous 19 years.
22 May 2019, 9:05 PM (IST)
Opposition sees defeat coming: Ram Madhav
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Wednesday said that the Opposition is raising the questions on EVM credibility as they see their imminent defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.
"They are seeking excuses for their impending disastrous defeat tomorrow," Ram Madhav told.
"First they blamed the Election Commission, then EVM. Tomorrow you will see them blaming voters," he added.
22 May 2019, 8:39 PM (IST)
EVMs can't be tampered with, says OP Rawat
EVMs can't be tampered with, OP Rawat, Former Chief Election Commissioner said and added that EVM security protocol is so strict whenever a strong room has to be opened, representatives of all political parties have to be there, machines are taken out in their presence, mock poll is also conducted, he added.
In fact, when making EVM ready for the polling, a mock poll is conducted at polling station where all the polling agents are asked to vote and then count, so all these arrangements ensure that EVMs can't be tampered with, he added.
OP Rawat, Former Chief Election Commissioner: In fact when making EVM ready for the polling, a mock poll is again conducted at polling station where all the polling agents are asked to vote & then count, so all these arrangements ensure that EVMs can't be tampered with. https://t.co/X0ozHNtsbz
— ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019
22 May 2019, 6:25 PM (IST)
What exit polls say
With the final phase of polling of the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections coming to an end on May 19, exit polls predicted a thumping win for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lok Sabha polls.
The party, along with its allies, is predicted to sweep a lion's share of the Hindi heartland of the nation including states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar as well as the national capital.