All arrangements have been put in place for counting of votes in five states of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal tomorrow. Most of the results are expected by noon. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Qureshi said an elaborate three tier security arrangement has been put in place for the counting of votes which would start at 8 A.M.In West Bengal counting of votes will be taking place tomorrow at 312 places with 87 counting centres. The Election commission has deputed one observer for each counting places. Three layered security arrangements have been made in and around all counting centers. About 74 companies of central Para military forces are deployed for free and fair counting. Meanwhile state election officers have decided to provide web casting CDs of polling on their demand.AIR correspondent covering Wes Bengal Assembly elections reports that after conducting the most peaceful and fair elections in the state the biggest challenge before election commission will be ensure peace after tomorrow’s vote count. The all party meeting convened by the commission is the right step to contain any political fall out of the verdict, given the polarize and surcharged political atmosphere. The state governor Mr. MK Narayanan also reviewed the law and order situation and the preventive steps to be taken with chief secretary, home secretary and DGP this after noon. Meanwhile all arrangements are in place for counting of votes amid tight security measures.Meanwhile, the State Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Sunil Gupta appealed to all political parties to maintain peace after the announcement of the poll result. Mr. Gupta held an all party meeting in Kolkata today and urged the political parties to take steps to check post poll violence.The Election Commission has deputed 80 observers to ensure trouble free counting of votes in Assam. The commission has made arrangements to video-record the counting. There will be 1792 counting table in counting centres throughout the state for counting. Each counting table will have one video camera which will record all contents displayed on the display panel of the EVM from the beginning till the end of the counting. CCTV cameras were also installed in the counting hall and no mobile phones were allowed inside One company of central paramilitary forces has been deployed in the strong room , four battalions of the forces in the outer cord and 10 to 15 armed policemen have been appointed to guard each counting room.Along with other four states, in Kerala also counting of votes will start at eight in the morning tomorrow amid tight security. All arrangements are in place in 64 counting centres spread across 14 districts of the state. Since electronic voting machines have been used in all polling stations for the assembly election, first trend will be available in the morning itself and by noon the final picture is expected to emerge.In Tamil Nadu, elaborate arrangements are in place and authorities are having last minute preparations for the final stages of counting in all the ninety one counting centers which would be announcing the destiny of the political parties in the 14th assembly elections. The Chief electoral Officer Mr. Praveen Kumar has said that since for the first time all activities at the counting centres are to be video graphed including every activity at each counting table. With 47 companies of the central para military force a three tier security is in place at all the counting centres.
News On AIR | May 12, 2011 1:54 PM
All arrangements in place for counting of votes in five states