Counting of votes began on Thursday for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections across the country.
According to the Election Commission (EC) officials, results are expected only by late evening.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Congress president Rahul Gandhi are among key leaders who contested the polls.
Most of the exit polls have predicted that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will return to power for the second time.
The opposition parties, however, disagreed with the results of the exit polls.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi yesterday in a tweet said to party workers that, “Don’t be scared by the fake exit poll results. The next 24 hours are crucial. Remain alert and cautious and beware. Your hard work will not go waste.”
The voting which began on April 11 concluded on May 19. About 67 per cent of the nearly 900 million eligible people exercised their franchise.
Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday alerted the State Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police regarding the possibility of eruption of violence in different parts of the country in connection with the counting of votes today. MHA had asked the States and UTs to maintain law & order, peace and public tranquillity.
