By IANS,
Bangalore : Laddo, burfi, Mysorepak were distributed Sunday at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) offices across Karnataka as the party prepared to form its own government for the first time in south India.
Supporters waved BJP flags in hundreds and burst crackers. It was smiles, hugs and handshakes among BJP workers and supporters. Many shouted slogans and others danced to drum beats.
Hundreds of workers and supporters of the Congress, BJP and Janata Dal-Secular thronged the counting centres heavily guarded by the police with three layers of checks to allow entry to agents and media personnel.
As officials announced the number of votes each candidate had bagged at the end of every round of counting, their supporters outside shouted slogans.
Inside the counting centres, mostly college or school buildings, there were separate counters for breakfast for the police and counting officials to ensure there was no crowding at one place.
Agents of candidates at the counting centres were constantly on their mobile telephones.
Police and election officials said in Bangalore that the counting process went off smoothly at all the 48 centres.
Around 65 percent of the 42 million eligible voters had cast their ballot to pick 224 members from the over 2,200 candidates in the field for the three-phase elections held on May 10, 16 and 22.