Bhubaneswar: The counting of votes for the three-tier Panchayat polls began today amidst tight security at the counting centers set up across the state. On the first day today, counting will be held for 315 ZP seats. The counting process started at 8 am today in the 314 blocks of the state. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in counting centers to avoid any untoward incidents. Separate tables have been put up for the Panchayat and ZIlla Parishad vote counting. One Counting Supervisor and two Counting Assistants have been allotted to each table for counting of votes.
While 315 Zilla parishad seats will go for counting today, 307 and 229 ZP seats will go for counting tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. The contesting candidates or their representatives are allowed to be present at the counting centers. In total, 1,56, 753 ward members, 32,860 Sarapancha, 27034 Samiti Sabhya and 3339 ZP candidates are in fray in the Panchayat Polls.