VVPAT slip counting to delay results

SHILLONG: The counting of votes of the parliamentary elections on May 23 will be delayed since slips of Voter- Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will be counted.
Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor said on Monday that VVPAT slips of five polling stations from a constituency will be counted and this may cause delay in declaring the results.
Besides, the observers appointed by the Election Commission may choose two polling stations to count the VVPAT slips.
Counting will be held in 13 centres in the state and elaborate arrangements have been made in this regard as only ten days are left for the declaration of results.
The chief electoral officer said further training will be provided to the counting personnel ahead of May 23.
One platoon of central para-military forces was deployed to guard the EVMs and the security personnel will also ensure security during counting.