The Election Commission on Friday said it would wait for the postal ballots to come in before announcing the results for constituencies where the winning margin is less than the total number of issued postal ballots.

The directive comes after Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala's allegation that the EC's decision to advance the counting to February 23 is a "conspiracy" to deny voting rights to over 1.6 lakh soldiers, who use postal ballots.

Returning officers will have to refer to the EC cases where the winning margin is less than the total number of postal ballots issued.

The soldiers were earlier asked to caste their vote by 0800 IST, February 27.

Earlier report:

Change in counting date a ploy: Chautala

Also read:

Haryana votes to be counted on Feb 23

Complete Coverage: Assembly Elctions 2005