Jaipur: The counting of votes polled in the November 25 assembly elections in Rajasthan got underway on Sunday at 8:00 am, amid tight security arrangements. Early trends are expected to be available in some time.

"The counting of votes has begun," said Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gupta. Postal ballots are being counted first which will be followed by the counting of votes polled through Electronic Voting Machines.

A total of 36 counting centres have been set up 199 of the state's 200 assembly constituencies which went to poll. Election to the Sriganganagar's Karanpur seat was postponed due to the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

As many as 1,862 candidates are in the fray for 199 seats.

While 30 election districts have one counting centre, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Nagaur have two centres each. Mr Gupta said,

"All District Election Officers, Police Commissioners and Superintendents of Police have been instructed to strictly follow the security protocol at the counting centre."

He said that three-tier security arrangements have been ensured at the counting venue and only those with authorised passes would be able to enter. He further said,

Separate counting halls have been made for each assembly seat at the counting centre, where as per the instructions of the Commission, tables have been arranged for counting of postal ballots and EVMs.

Incumbent Congress and its rival Congress conducted intense poll campaign and are both hopeful of forming a government.

While most of pollsters predicted an edge for the BJP, three exit polls in their upper limit forecast a Congress win in the desert state.