All is set for counting of votes in 542 Lok Sabha constituencies on Thursday as opposition parties mounted vigil around the counting centres across India where the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are being kept in strong rooms.
Most exit polls have predicted a comfortable majority for the BJP-led NDA whose campaign was spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The opposition, however, has rejected the exit polls, calling them wrong and erroneous.
Twenty-two opposition parties had on Tuesday knocked the Election Commission's doors to press their demand for counting of five VVPAT samples first and also taking up 100 per cent counting of VVPATs in case of any mismatch with an EVM.
The EC on Wednesday rejected the opposition demand.
The opposition parties have also alleged that EVMs were replaced from the strongrooms in some constituencies in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh after what they said was suspicious movement of the voting machines on Tuesday.
However, the EC had rubbished the reports, terming them as "absolutely false". A 24-hour EVM Control Room has been made functional at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi to monitor complaints relating to EVMs.
The poll panel is also keeping a close watch on the counting centres across the country. Ahead of the counting process, a three-tier security system was put in place at the EVM strong rooms and the counting process will be carried out under CCTV surveillance.
The counting exercise will begin at 8 am, capping a two-month long election process which witnessed high-octane campaigning and charges of tampering EVMs and violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Trends are expected to be available shortly thereafter.
Counting of votes will also take place for four state Assemblies -- Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, which went to polls along with the general elections.
As per the EC's directives, five polling stations per Assembly segment will be selected on a random basis for verification of VVPAT slips. The verification process of VVPATs may take four to five hours.
The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections commenced on April 11 and the last phase of voting was held on May 19. The dates were announced by the EC on March 10, following which the MCC had come into effect.
Over 8,000 candidates are in the fray for 542 Lok Sabha seats across the country.
Among the keenly watched constituencies will be Varanasi from where Prime Minister Modi is seeking re-election and Amethi represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi since 2004. Rahul is also contesting from Wayanad in Kerala. His mother Sonia Gandhi is also seeking another term from Raebareli.
In the two-month long election process, leaders cutting across party lines were engaged in a high-decibel campaign, making promises and launching attacks on their opponents in a bid to woo the voters.
At a dinner hosted by BJP president Amit Shah for NDA allies on Tuesday, the Prime Minister had said that the NDA is an alliance, which would represent the country's expectations and ambitions.
"We have become an organic entity. The NDA has played an important role in fulfilling the regional aspirations," Modi said.
Rahul, on the other hand, is banking on his party's proposed NYAY scheme, which promises to provide Rs 72,000 to 20 per cent of the country's poorest.
He and other Congress leaders have repeatedly attacked BJP for alleged irregularities in Rafale fighter jet deal, demonetisation and GST, besides employment and agrarian issues.
&nbsp;In a few hours from now, the&nbsp;verdict of the people will be out on whether they voted for a&nbsp;change or status quo in Andhra Pradesh, even as stakes are&nbsp;high for the two main contenders--the ruling TDP and YSRC.
The general mood of the voters apart, most pre-poll&nbsp;surveys and exit polls have given a thumping victory for the&nbsp;opposition YSR Congress (YSRC) but ruling Telugu Desam&nbsp;president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is betting&nbsp;"1000 per cent" on his party's victory.&nbsp;Counting of votes for the 25 Lok Sabha seats and 175&nbsp;Assembly segments will be held at 36 different centres across the State amid tight security on Thursday, according to&nbsp;officials. 
This was the first general election in the state after&nbsp;the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and formation of Telangana,&nbsp;in June 2014.
<h2>Top News Stories Of The Day</h2>
<ul>
<li><a title="Mumbai cops land in LOC to search man who sent a pornographic video on WhatsApp" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-cops-land-in-loc-to-search-man-who-sent-a-pornographic-video-on-whatsapp/20991150" target="_blank">Mumbai cops land in LOC to search man who sent a pornographic video on WhatsApp</a></li>
<li><a title="mid-day test drive: Mumbai streets are alive with the danger of cylinders" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mid-day-test-drive-mumbai-streets-are-alive-with-the-danger-of-cylinders/20990196" target="_blank">mid-day test drive: Mumbai streets are alive with the danger of cylinders</a></li>
<li><a title="Mumbai: Priest dies of shock after seeing truck run over boy at Sion-Koliwada" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-priest-dies-of-shock-after-seeing-truck-run-over-boy-at-sion-koliwada/20990197" target="_blank">Mumbai: Priest dies of shock after seeing truck run over boy at Sion-Koliwada</a></li>
<li><a title="Mumbai: Snakes frequenting posh Malabar Hill Society scare residents" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-snakes-frequenting-posh-malabar-hill-society-scares-residents/20990199" target="_blank">Mumbai: Snakes frequenting posh Malabar Hill Society scare residents</a></li>
<li><a title="Dead man's case files go missing from JJ Hospital" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/dead-mans-case-files-go-missing-from-jj-hospital/20991158" target="_blank">Dead man's case files go missing from JJ Hospital</a></li>
<li><a title="Mumbai: 23 BMM students of Khalsa college stranded in final year" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-23-bmm-students-of-khalsa-college-stranded-in-final-year/20991157" target="_blank">Mumbai: 23 BMM students of Khalsa college stranded in final year</a></li>
<li><a title="Shiv Sena may get Dy CM post soon" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/shiv-sena-may-get-dy-cm-post-soon/20991152" target="_blank">Shiv Sena may get Dy CM post soon</a></li>
<li><a title="Thane police crack Vajreshwari temple theft, nab five" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/thane-police-crack-vajreshwari-temple-theft-nab-five/20991151" target="_blank">Thane police crack Vajreshwari temple theft, nab five</a></li>
<li><a title="Mumbai: Rape accused flees from cops through hospital toilet in Versova" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-rape-accused-flees-from-cops-through-hospital-toilet-in-versova/20991159" target="_blank">Mumbai: Rape accused flees from cops through hospital toilet in Versova</a></li>
<li><a title="BJP in Mumbai North to keep 3,000 laddoos, pedas ready for Thursday" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/bjp-in-mumbai-north-to-keep-3000-laddoos-pedas-ready-for-thursday/20991154" target="_blank">BJP in Mumbai North to keep 3,000 laddoos, pedas ready for Thursday</a></li>
<li><a title="Tushar Gandhi: To drag Bapu in was strategically planned" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/tushar-gandhi-to-drag-bapu-in-was-strategically-planned/20991153" target="_blank">Tushar Gandhi: To drag Bapu in was strategically planned</a></li>
<li><a title="Mumbai Mahila Congress seeks FIR against Vivek Oberoi for insulting women's modesty" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-mahila-congress-seeks-fir-against-vivek-oberoi-for-insulting-womens-modesty/20992153" target="_blank">Mumbai Mahila Congress seeks FIR against Vivek Oberoi for insulting women's modesty</a></li>
<li><a title="Court quashes sexual assault FIR against actor Jeetendra filed by cousin" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/court-quashes-sexual-assault-fir-against-actor-jeetendra-filed-by-cousin/20991193" target="_blank">Court quashes sexual assault FIR against actor Jeetendra filed by cousin</a></li>
<li><a title="TikTok Celebrity Mohit Mor shot dead; act captured on CCTV" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/tiktok-celebrity-mohit-mor-shot-dead-act-captured-on-cctv/20992176" target="_blank">TikTok Celebrity Mohit Mor shot dead; act captured on CCTV</a></li>
<li><a title="Poonam Mahajan: Unseen family photos of Pramod Mahajan's daughter" href="https://www.mid-day.com/photos/poonam-mahajan-unseen-family-photos-of-pramod-mahajans-daughter/15560" target="_blank">Poonam Mahajan: Unseen family photos of Pramod Mahajan's daughter</a></li>
<li><a title="Elections 2019: Popular politicians and key battles in Mumbai" href="https://www.mid-day.com/photos/elections-2019-popular-politicians-and-key-battles-in-mumbai/47983" target="_blank">Elections 2019: Popular politicians and key battles in Mumbai</a></li>
<li><a title="Mumbai tour operators cancel travel plans to save the fireflies" href="https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mid-day-impact-mumbai-tour-operators-cancel-travel-plans-to-save-the-fireflies/20990198" target="_blank">Mumbai tour operators cancel travel plans to save the fireflies</a></li>
<li><a title="These photos of Milind Deora with wife Pooja and family are precious" href="https://www.mid-day.com/photos/these-family-photos-of-milind-deora-with-wife-pooja-and-father-murli-are-precious/42343" target="_blank">These photos of Milind Deora with wife Pooja and family are precious</a></li>
</ul>
<div>Catch up on all the latest <a title="mid-day news" href="https://www.mid-day.com/news" target="_blank">Crime, National, International and Hatke news</a> here. Also download the new mid-day <a title="mid-day android app " href="https://goo.gl/8Xlcvr" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a title="mid-day iOS app" href="https://goo.gl/KQziH4" target="_blank">iOS</a> apps to get latest updates</div>
Edited by mid-day online desk with inputs from Agencies

Over 8,000 candidates are in the fray for 542 Lok Sabha seats across the country

Elections 2019: Stage set for counting of votes tomorrow

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / News / India News / Article / Elections 2019: Stage set for counting of votes tomorrow

Elections 2019: Stage set for counting of votes tomorrow

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast