india-gears-up-for-lok-sabha-results

Necessary arrangements have been made for the counting of votes, tomorrow across the country, with security measures put in place, to ensure a peaceful vote counting. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am.

 

Citing the Conduct of Election Rules, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Monday said the count of postal ballots will start first across all counting centres and asserted that there was "no doubt about it".

 

"Rules state (Rule 54A) that the postal ballot count will start first. In all centres in the country, it will start first, no doubt about it. After half an hour, we start the EVM count. So, there are three countings that are happening simultaneously -  it happened in the 2019 elections, and it happened in all the assembly polls held thereafter. It happened yesterday also in the case of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim assembly (vote count). We can't change anything mid-course.

Why can't we change, because it is compliant with the rules," he said. 

 

In Telangana, about 10,000 personnel geared up to take part in the exercise across 34 centres. A three-layer security cordon has been put in place and 12 companies of central forces have been deployed for strongroom security. Telangana had recorded 66.3% voter turnout for the Lok Sabha polls and the main contest is between the ruling Congress, the BRS, and the BJP. 

 

In Haryana, there are 91 designated centres across the state. Over 10,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth operations at the counting centres, Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur said. 

 

A three-tier security system will be in place around the counting centres, he added. 

 

The counting process in Kerala will take place across 20 centres. A total of 194 candidates are vying for the 20 seats in the state, making the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls a crucial battleground for the CPI(M)-led ruling LDF, the Congress-headed UDF, and the BJP-led NDA. 

 

The counting of votes in Odisha will take place for 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats across 70 centres throughout the state. 

 

Over 2.5 crore voters exercised their franchise in the four-phase elections, with a turnout of 74.44 per cent, higher than the 73.09 per cent recorded in 2019.  

A total of 5,777 counting supervisors, 5,233 counting assistants, and 5,396 micro observers have been appointed. Additionally, the Election Commission has assigned 124 special observers to oversee the counting process. 

 

Security measures have been intensified with 60 companies of the central armed police force (CAPF) and Odisha armed police force deployed at counting centres, along with another 89 CAPF companies for maintaining law and order after the results are announced.

 

 More than 13,000 personnel have been deployed for the counting of votes for the 25 Lok Sabha seats and the Bagidora assembly seat by-election in Rajasthan. 

 

More than 13,000 personnel, including returning officers, deputy election officers, counting supervisors, counting assistants, counting staff, and micro observers have been deployed to carry out the exercise, Chief Election Officer Praveen Gupta said. 

 

Tight security arrangements have been made at all places where counting will be held. All district election officers, police commissioners, and superintendents of police have been instructed to strictly follow the security parameters at the counting centres, Gupta said. 

 

In West Bengal, over 25,000 polling staff, including observers and micro observers, will be deployed by the Election Commission for the counting process, which will take place at 55 centres across the state. 

 

The EC has arranged a three-tier security measure outside every counting centre, with 92 companies of central forces along with 2,525 personnel of state police.

 

The first level of security will consist of constables and ASI-ranked policemen, the second level will have armed state policemen, and the central forces will be present at the innermost circle surrounding the counting centres.

 

Section 144 will be enforced up to 200 metres around each counting centre, and only one observer per assembly will be allowed inside each counting centre, the official added.

 

Meanwhile, preparations have been made for the counting of votes at 36 centres in Bihar.   

 

In the majority of the booths, the number of postal ballot is less. It will automatically end first, CEC pointed out. 

 

Since 2019, VVPAT (paper-trail machine) slips from five randomly selected polling stations per assembly constituency (or segment in cases of Lok Sabha seats) are matched with the EVM count for greater transparency.