Vote counting for the three-tier panchayat polls in West Bengal commenced on Tuesday under strict security measures.
Nearly 74,000 seats contested across 22 districts, with approximately 339 counting venues.
The process thus expected to extend over two days due to the volume of ballots.
State Election Commission officials expressed optimism that a preliminary trend would emerge by the end of the day.
The counting venues heavily guarded by state police and central forces, and Section 144 of the CrPC has enforced in the vicinity to prevent any untoward incidents.
The state witnessed a voter turnout of 80.71% on Saturday, with repolling conducted on Monday in 696 booths where reports of violence and ballot tampering had emerged.
The decision for repolling made in response to these incidents. A total of 5.67 crore people in rural areas were eligible to vote. As determining the fate of 2.06 lakh candidates vying for 73,887 panchayat seats.
West Bengal has a history of violence during rural elections, with the 2003 panchayat polls being particularly notorious for claiming 76 lives throughout the electoral process, including 40 deaths on the day of polling.
In this year’s elections, the death toll has already surpassed 30. Thus, nearing the number from the previous panchayat elections held in 2018.