The counting of votes polled in the Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections held in Karnataka last week will be held today.

The electoral fate of more than 15,000 candidates who have contested the elections held in two phases on December 26 and December 31 will be known by afternoon, according to State Election Commission sources.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is confident of doing well this time round. In the last elections the BJP had a much smaller base but this time the party feels it has the edge.

“101% we will be in number one place, JD(S) in number two place and Congress in number three place,” said Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. The police have made elaborate security arrangements for the counting process.

For the first time, the electoral authorities have used EVMs in the panchayat elections in the state.