New Delhi: Counting of votes in 539 Lok Sabha seats and elections to three State Assemblies began this morning (May 13, 2004).

The three Assemblies are Karnataka, Orissa and Sikkim.

Trends are expected to be available shortly after counting begins and the results by late evening.

Elections 2004-Where is India heading...
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The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements to make the results available on the internet.

Out of the 543 Parliamentary constituencies, counting would not be done in four seats Outer Manipur, Chhapra, Bettiah and Siwan (the last three in Bihar). While the election in Chhapra has been countermanded following complaints of large scale rigging, EC teams have probed similar allegations in the other two constituencies.

Counting would take place in over 1200 counting centres throughout the country and elaborate security arrangements have been made for the exercise, the sources said.