LS polls: Counting of votes to start at 8 am on 23rd
| Date :01-May-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
With the start of the month of May, all are eagerly waiting for May 23, the day when votes polled during Lok Sabha elections will be counted and results will be declared. The counting of votes for Nagpur and Ramtek constituencies of Lok Sabha will be held at Kalamna yard of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC). It will start at 8 am. Ashwin Mudgal, District Collector and Returning Officer for Nagpur constituency, reviewed the preparations for counting in a meeting held at District Collectorate here on Tuesday.
Shrikant Phadke, Additional Collector and Returning Officer for Ramtek constituency; Rajlaxmi Shah, Deputy District Election Officer; Ravindra Kumbhare and Avinash Katade, both Deputy Collectors; Milind Naringe, District Planning Officer; Janardhan Bhanuse, Executive Engineer of Public Works Department; Leeladhar Wardekar, Foodgrains Distribution Officer; Bhaskar Tayade, District Supply Officer; Ravindra Bhuyar, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad; S R Kenkre, Joint Director of Food and Drugs Administration; Vineet Tiwari, Accounts Officer were present prominently. Mudgal asked the Nodal Officers to take stock of the preparations and have a proper planning regarding manpower, arrangements etc. There will be two different halls for counting of votes for Nagpur and Ramtek constituencies of Lok Sabha. In each hall, necessary facilities will be provided to Election Observer, Returning Officer, candidates, and counting of votes. The counting of votes will be conducted Assembly segment-wise and there will be 14 tables for each Assembly segment.
The entire process of counting of votes will be videographed. For the purpose, 50 videographers will be depoyed. The electronic voting machines (EVMs) have been placed in strong rooms under the strict vigil of Central Reserve Police Force. At 6.30 am on May 23, the EVMs will be opened in front of the candidates of political parties and their representatives. Later, counting of votes will begin at 8 am. Initially, postal ballot papers will be counted and then EVMs will be taken up for counting at 8.30 am.
The officials and employees to be engaged in counting process will be duly trained. Mudgal delegated responsibilities to various officers. Accordingly, Kumbhare will conduct training of counting staff, Katade will take care of manpower management, and Naringe will look after security and arrangements for round-wise counting of votes. Bhanuse has been asked to ensure proper structure of counting chambers, arrange tables appropriately, erect media rooom and communication cell, take care of fire services and medical facilities. Wardekar will make arrangements for vehicles. Prashant Kale, Foodgrains Distribution Officer, and Kenkre will look after food and water arrangements. Tayade will look after ceiling, Bhuyar after transportation of EVMs.