New Delhi: Before taking a call on whether to allow the release of a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Election Commission is awaiting the BJP's reply to an opposition parties' plea to prevent its screening amid the ongoing poll process.

The producers of the film, which is slated for release on April 5, have already replied to the EC notice on the oppositions' complaint against the film.

"Once the response from the BJP general secretary is received, the EC will take a decision," said a senior poll panel official Monday night.

Since the complaint to the EC mentioned BJP in it, its copy was sent to the party for its reply.

The official also referred to at least two Supreme Court rulings about movies.

In one of the rulings, the SC had directed the West Bengal government to ensure that satirical film 'Bhobishyoter Bhoot', which was critical of the state chief minister, is screened without obstruction.

The model code of conduct, however, was not in force at that time, he added.

"We also have to see the latest Delhi High court ruling which said the biopic screening should be decided by the EC," he said, adding the model code is silent on films and it was a grey area.

He said the EC has to keep the court verdicts in mind.

In their complaint, the opposition parties has alleged that the film violates the model code and would act like an advertisement for the BJP.

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New Delhi: The countdown has begun for the counting of votes for the Assembly elections in five states that have captured the attention of people across the country.

The counting of votes for the Assembly constituencies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry will begin simultaneously at 8 am, and the fate of candidates in a total of 824 constituencies will be decided shortly.

The counting of postal ballots will take place first, followed by the counting of EVM votes in several rounds.

► AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami is leading in Tamil Nadu’s Edappadi constituency

► In Puducherry, BJP is leading in 3 seats.

► In Assam, BJP is leading in 56 seats, while Congress is leading in 12 seats.

► Suvendhu Adhikari leads in both Bhabanipur and Nandigram

► West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee faces setback in Bhabanipur constituency

► Bhupen Borah, who recently left Congress and joined the BJP, is leading in Assam’s Bihpuria constituency

► Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma is leading in Jalukabari constituency

► BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is leading in West Bengal’s Nandigram constituencyFive-state elections: Postal vote counting begins

► TMC, BJP lead in one seat each in West Bengal

► In Tamil Nadu, DMK leads in 3 constituencies, while TVK leads in 1

► UDF leads in 5 seats in Kerala, BJP in 1, LDF in 1

► BJP leads in 2 seats, AIUDF in 1 in Assam

► AINRC leads in 1 constituency in Puducherry

► TMC leads in 5 seats in West Bengal; Mamata Banerjee’s party maintains initial lead

► Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin leads in Kolathur

► BJP takes early lead in Assam

► Congress-led UDF leads in Kerala

► Tamil Nadu, TVK chief Vijay leads in the Perambur constituency, lags in Tiruchirappalli South

► BJP leads in 10 seats in Assam

► LDF candidate V.P.P. Mustafa leads in the Thrikkaripur Assembly constituency

► Out of 294 seats in West Bengal, BJP is leading in 14 seats, TMC in 12 seats, Congress in 2 seats

► Out of 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, DMK is leading in 15 seats, AIADMK is leading in 5 seats, TVK is leading in 2 seats

► Out of 126 seats in Assam, BJP is leading in 31 seats, Congress in 4 seats, AIUDF in 2 seats.

► Out of 30 seats in Puducherry, NRC+ is leading in 3 seats, Congress in 2 seats, TVK in 1 seat.

► Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suffers a setback in theBerhampore constituency in West Bengal.