Srinagar: Amidst tight security, counting for the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, for which elections were held in four phases spread over September and October, will be held on October 10.

This is for the first time in the electoral history of the state that electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used in the poll process and the first result was expected before noon.

The October 10 result would decide the electoral fate of National Conference president and its Chief Ministerial candidate Omar Abdullah, contesting from Ganderbal Assembly constituency and Mehbooba Mufti, vice-president of Peoples Democratic Party from Pahalgam Assembly constituency.

The counting staff, including 140 counting supervisors derived from various departments were imparted necessary training for compilation of counting figures of EVMs, an official spokesman said.

He said the EVM experts had acquainted the staff with the technique and know-how about handling the machines.

The spokesman said that counting would be held in all the district headquarters but there could be a slight change depending on security requirements.

All the EVMs had been deposited in strong rooms of the district headquarters with the security personnel maintaining bird's eye vigil to thwart any attempt of militants to sabotage the last leg of the Democratic exercise in the state.

PTI