Gandhinagar, Dec 22: Security was tightened across Gujarat today as the election authorities geared up to undertake the exercise of counting votes polled in the assembly elections in the state tomorrow.

The Election Commission has directed all district election officers, returning officers and observers in Gujarat to ensure ''fool-proof'' security at the counting venues and not allow any unauthorised person to enter the premises. Special precaution must be taken to ensure that no untoward incident took place during post-victory celebrations by winning candidates, the commission said.

In a communication, the commission said the counting centers will be thoroughly sanitised by deployment of adequate security forces. Strict discipline should be maintained and no loitering should be allowed, it said.

''Due care will be taken to keep a close watch on the counting agents, election agents as well as the candidates and proper attention must be paid to security of the candidates, mediapersons and other officials inside the Counting hall,'' the commission said.

''Appropriate security arrangements shall also be made to maintain law and order immediately after the counting of votes and declaration of results,'' the commission added.

The EC had set up 37 counting centres in the state. Counting will begin at 0800 hrs trends will be available around 0900 hrs.

The results of all the 182 constituencies were expected to be available by evening.

UNI