Ensure transparency in counting: CEC
| Date :10-May-2019 |
Staff Reporter:
Chief Election Commissioner, Madhya Pradesh, V L Kantarao instructed District Returning Officers to ensure total transparency in preliminary preparations of counting of votes of Lok Sabha elections. He was reviewing preparations of vote counting of Lok Sabha polls in all the districts of State, where the polling of first and second phase have been completed. Election Commission of India, Deputy Commissioner, Sudeep Jain was also present. In the meeting, Additional Chief Election Officer, Sandeep Yadav was also present. The Chief Election Officer emphasised on making all arrangements to conduct streamlined vote counting of Lok Sabha elections in State.
He also instructed all the DROs and Collectors attending the meeting to ensure word to word compliance of directions of Election Commission. He emphasised on conducting separate training of employee teams to be constituted for counting of VVPAT machine slips. He asked to establish a model counting room in every district, where, along with counting employees, representatives of political organisations can also take information about practical aspects of the vote counting.
The CEO further instructed to ensure separate tables engaged for VVPAT counting in every Assembly constituency. He added that, as per instructions of Election Commission of India, the counting of VVPAT slips should be conducted in presence of Returning Officer and Observer appointed by the Election Commission of India. He further instructed DROs to remain vigilant about security of the strong rooms till the end of counting of votes. The protocol of security of strong rooms should be followed strictly under all circumstances. CEO Kantarao appreciated Collectors for conducting free, fearless and independent polling in their respective districts, while also appreciating the efforts initiated by them to raise voting per cent. He asked DRO to remain in contact with the CEO office, so that, any problem could be resolved immediately. In the meeting, Election Commission of India, Deputy Election Commissioner, Sudeep Jain has also given directions to maintain proper vigilance on works related to vote counting. He said, in Lok Sabha elections, counting of votes would be done Assembly Constituency wise and after declaration of first round results, the counting of votes for next round would be initiated. He also detailed about the precautions to be taken in counting of VVPAT slips.
He expressed need of holding mock-drill about counting of votes and training on it. Commenting on security and safety of strong rooms, he asked DRO to ensure day to day monitoring of strong room security if they are in district headquarters. He also emphasised on ensuring proper safety of CCTV recording system of strong rooms. He also appreciated the safety arrangements of strong rooms made in Jabalpur. He said that, like Jabalpur, the protocol on security of strong rooms should be followed in all the districts. DRO and Collector Jabalpur, Chhavi Bharadwaj and DROs and Collectors of 23 districts were present.