Ahmedabad (PTI) The stage is set for counting of votes for the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat as the Election Commission has put in place an elaborate arrangement at 29 centres across the state.

Those in the fray from Gujarat includes BJP's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani, three union ministers Shankarsinh Vaghela, Dinsha Patel and Naran Rathwa. Apart from that former BJP minister Harin Patha is also contesting.

"All the arrangements for counting of votes is over," Chief Electoral Officer of the state Anita Karwal said.

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It is for the first time that the Election Commission of India has banned the entry of sitting MPs, MLAs, Mayors and presidents of municipalities, taluka panchayats and district panchayats in the counting centers, the official said.

The candidates will be allowed in the counting centres but not near the tables, sources said.

The election commission has established 42,564 control units in the entire state for the smooth counting. There will be 2,534 counting tables for 29 constituency, Karwal said.

About 7,000 officials will be involved in the counting exercise throughout the state, She said adding that every counting table will have Central government officials acting as micro observer.

Tight security arrangements have been made at all the counting centers, officials said.