The results for the crucial state assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh will be declared today. The Election Commission will begin the counting of votes at 8 am.

LEADS: BJP - 29| Congress - 13 | Others – 2

Early trends show a neck to neck fight between BJP and Congress

- Supporters performing 'Hawan' outside Congress President Rahul Gandhi's residence ahead of counting of votes.

"Early trends to come in by 10 am," Returning Officer, Bhupinder Atri tells Times Now. "All necessary preparations have been done here at the Counting centers. There is absolutely no chance of EVM tampering. There is a 3-tier security layer around the EVM making the security completely full-proof," Atri adds.

- Heavy security is in place ahead of the counting of votes. Chief Electoral Officer, Pushpender Rajput told PTI that three-tier security arrangements have been made at all counting centers. Wire mesh barricading has been done at all the counting centers and there was a separate entry passage for counting staff and counting agents. Videography and CCTV coverage will be done in all counting centers.

- 2,820 counting staff has been deployed for the exercise which includes counting supervisors, counting assistants and micro observers.

- The state has a tradition of change in government after every election and this time it is the turn of the BJP which is upbeat after exit poll results, which have predicted a BJP victory by a huge margin, owing to an anti-incumbency sentiment that has gripped the state.

- In the hill state, the traditional rival parties - BJP and Congress - are battling for the 68 constituency seats. Himachal Pradesh's incumbent Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh is up against BJP's Prem Kumar Dhumal. The BSP contested 42 seats followed by the CPI(M) 14, the Swabhiman party and the Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI-3.

- A voter turnout of 75.28 percent was recorded in the state and the pollsters have predicted an easy BJP victory. Counting activity will be held across 42 centers in the state.

- Around 50 lakh voters were eligible to cast their votes and 37,605 polling personnel were deployed at 7,525 polling booths. 983 polling stations had been declared vulnerable and 399 as critical to ensuring free and fair elections in the state.