Itanagar: Counting of votes for the 57 Assembly seats in Arunachal Pradesh began today (Oct 10, 2004) at 8:00 hrs (IST) to decide the fates of 57 Congress, 38 BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), 11 Arunachal Congress, 10 NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) and 47 independents.

Congress has already bagged three seats - Dirang, Mukto, Sagalee of the 60-member house unopposed.

Counting is on at 17 centres across the State, mostly in the district headquarters, election office sources said.

Election office in Itanagar is linked with the counting centres by hotline, fax, STD and wireless telephones and returning officers have been authorised to declare the result if there is no discrepancy.

Since the constituencies do not have large electorate no trends will be given, the sources said.

Results are expected soon in many constituencies but counting may continue tomorrow though EVMs were used in all constituencies due to incessant rains which have affected efforts to bring the machines and polling personnel from far-flung areas in the State. Only two of the 37 helicopter sorties could be made, the sources said.

The election office failed to give the exact percentage of polling in all the 57 constituencies. It would be available only on receipt of detailed results from remote areas.