<p>Counting of votes polled in the November 3 by-elections to Dumka and Bermo assembly seats in Jharkhand began at 8 am on Tuesday amidst tight security, election officials said.</p>.<p>Security personnel, including central forces, have been deployed at the counting centres and CCTVs have been installed, state joint chief electoral officer Hiralal Mandal said.</p>.<p>Counting personnel have been asked to adhere to the Covid-19 protocol, Mandal said.</p>.<p>Votes will be counted in 18 rounds in Dumka and 17 rounds in Bermo seat in Bokaro district. The process is expected to be completed by 3 pm, he said.</p>.<p>Around seven-eight companies of security forces each have been deployed in the two districts, officials said.</p>.<p>The fate of 12 candidates in Dumka and 16 nominees in Bermo will be decided during the day.</p>.<p>Both seats are likely to witness direct contests.</p>.<p>Chief Minister Hemant Soren's younger brother Basant Soren will battle BJP candidate and former cabinet minister Lois Marandi in Dumka.</p>.<p>In Bermo, sitting Congress MLA Rajendra Singh's son Anoop Singh will contest BJP's Yogeshwar Mahato.</p>.<p>The by-elections were necessitated after the chief minister vacated the Dumka seat and retained his other Barhait constituency, while Rajendra Singh died due to an illness.</p>.<p>Around 62.51 per cent of total 5.63 lakh voters had exercised their franchise in the by-elections to the two seats.</p>
<p>Counting of votes polled in the November 3 by-elections to Dumka and Bermo assembly seats in Jharkhand began at 8 am on Tuesday amidst tight security, election officials said.</p>.<p>Security personnel, including central forces, have been deployed at the counting centres and CCTVs have been installed, state joint chief electoral officer Hiralal Mandal said.</p>.<p>Counting personnel have been asked to adhere to the Covid-19 protocol, Mandal said.</p>.<p>Votes will be counted in 18 rounds in Dumka and 17 rounds in Bermo seat in Bokaro district. The process is expected to be completed by 3 pm, he said.</p>.<p>Around seven-eight companies of security forces each have been deployed in the two districts, officials said.</p>.<p>The fate of 12 candidates in Dumka and 16 nominees in Bermo will be decided during the day.</p>.<p>Both seats are likely to witness direct contests.</p>.<p>Chief Minister Hemant Soren's younger brother Basant Soren will battle BJP candidate and former cabinet minister Lois Marandi in Dumka.</p>.<p>In Bermo, sitting Congress MLA Rajendra Singh's son Anoop Singh will contest BJP's Yogeshwar Mahato.</p>.<p>The by-elections were necessitated after the chief minister vacated the Dumka seat and retained his other Barhait constituency, while Rajendra Singh died due to an illness.</p>.<p>Around 62.51 per cent of total 5.63 lakh voters had exercised their franchise in the by-elections to the two seats.</p>