All arrangements for vote counting for Himachal bypolls done: CEO

Shimla, Nov 2 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer C. Palrasu said on Monday that all preparations have been completed for the counting of votes for by-elections to the Mandi parliamentary constituency and three assembly constituencies -- Fatehpur, Jubbal-Kotkhai and Arki.

He said the counting of ballots would start at 8 a.m. on Tuesday amidst tight security.

Palrasu said 11 counting observers have been deployed for the Mandi parliamentary constituency, and three for each Assembly constituency. Besides, one micro observer has also been deployed at each counting table.

He said 57.73 per cent voters exercised franchise in the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency.

The voting percentage in the Fatehpur constituency in Kangra district was 66.20 per cent, while it was 64.97 per cent in Arki in Solan district, and 78.75 per cent in Jubbal-Kotkhai in Shimla district.