Kathmandu, April 12:

The Election Commission today said that the number of polling stations, where the polls were postponed or cancelled, has increased to 75 in 19 constituencies of

12 districts.

Earlier yesterday, the EC had said that the election in 60 polling stations had been postponed or cancelled in 16 constituencies of 10 districts. Those polling stations, where the polls were postponed or cancelled, include Constituencies No 5 and 6 of Sarlahi, 3, 4 and 5 of Mahottari, Chitawan-5, Siraha-3, 2 and 5, Nuwakot-1, Arghakhanchhi-1 and 2, Saptari-1 and 2, Dailekh-1, Dhading-1, Baglung-1 and 3, and Rautahat-4.

The EC said that the chief returning officers of respective constituencies, as per the directive of the EC, have rescheduled the date for re-polling in the polling centres in Saptari-1 and Sarlahi-5 on April 15. Repolling in Dailekh-1 and Nawalparasi for April 13, in Chitwan-5 and Siraha and Sarlahi-6 has been rescheduled on April 17 and re-polling in Mahottari has been rescheduled on April 16.

EC spokesperson Laxman Bhattarai said at the regular press briefing that vote counting in 157 constituencies of 62 districts have already been begun.

Bhattarai said the EC has directed the chief returning officer to take action against Amarendra Kumar Yadav, election officer at a polling station at Saptari-2, as the ballot papers for PR election were found not signed by him.