A view of election materials, including EVMs, in Thiruvananthapuram. File

| Photo Credit: ANI

District election officials are considering increasing the number of tables at the vote-counting centre for the Paravur Assembly constituency amid concerns over a possible delay in declaring results. Paravur is among the constituencies to be keenly watched on the counting day as Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan seeks re-election from there. The counting centre for the constituency will be at UC College, Aluva.Officials had earlier decided to set up 13 counting tables at the centre, citing space constraints inside the counting hall. Most of the other constituencies will have 14 tables, it is learnt.Also read: Assembly elections LIVECounting in Paravur will require 17 full rounds and part of an additional round to be completed if there are only 13 tables. The process could be finished in around 15 rounds, significantly reducing the time taken, if there is one more table, sources said. Officials, sources said, are keen to avoid any delay in counting in the high-profile constituency as it may lead to unwanted controversies.“Only 13 tables were proposed earlier due to space constraints. We are looking into setting up one more,” a key official said.The administration reconsidered the alignment of the counting centre after the returning officer concerned conveyed to the District Collector, who is also the District Election Officer, concerns over a possible delay in counting and declaration of results in the key constituency.Officials have, meanwhile, cautioned that increasing the number of tables within the existing hall could lead to overcrowding, potentially affecting the smooth conduct of the counting process.In his seventh consecutive election from Paravur, Mr. Satheesan is facing the Communist Party of India’s E.T. Taison, currently Kodungalloor MLA, and the BJP’s Vathsala Prasannakumar, a former Congress leader. The constituency recorded an impressive 81.97 polling on April 9 with 15,7,083 of the total 16,1,285 electors turning up to exercise their franchise. Published - April 25, 2026 08:28 pm IST