Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan has permitted the proposal to increase the number of tables for counting in 16 out of 230 Assembly constituencies of Madhya Pradesh on Friday. Counting of votes for the elections held on 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh will be done on December 3. For this, 3,500 tables will be set up across the State. Maximum 21 tables would be installed in each of the 16 constituencies. A minimum of 14 tables are to be installed 161 out of 230 constituencies, As per the previously decided arrangement, the Election Commission had decided to set up 14 tables for counting EVM votes in every constituency. However, district election officials reported that the declaration of results may get delayed due to lack of manpower. Taking into consideration the apprehension of officials, Chief Electoral Officer Rajan had sought a proposal from the collectors to increase the counting table and sent it to the Election Commission.

 

This has been approved by the Election Commission of India in the order issued on November 29. These 16 constituencies where 21 tables are to be installed are Ater, Bhind, Gwalior Rural, Gwalior, Gwalior East, Baihar, Seoni, Kewalari, Lakhnadon, Multai, Amla, Ghodadongri, Bhainsdehi, Narela, Sendhwa and Barwani. 20 tables on these four seats are Sevdha, Datia, Huzur, Govindpura. 18 tables on these constituencies Morena, Mehgaon, Bhander, Niwari, Prithvipur, Maihar, Rampur Baghelan, Patan, Panagar, Bichhiya, Niwas, Barghat, Betul, Sanchi, Bhojpur, Udaipur, Burhanpur, Rajpur, Pansemal, Jobat and Dhar while Mandla, Budhni and Ashta will have 17 tables. The constituencies where only 16 tables are to be installed are Alirajpur, Shajapur, Bhopal North, Berasia, Pipariya, Sohagpur, Amarwada, Parswara, Balaghat, Lanji, Sihora, Jabalpur West, Bargi, Churhat, Sidhi, Sihawal, Dhauhani, Rajnagar, Karera, Pohri, Shivpuri, Pichhor, Kolaras, Lahar and Seoni Malwa. 14 tables installing on all the assembly seats where 16 to 21 tables are not allowed, the number of such assembly seats is 161.

 

Five tables increased for postal ballots: Based on the reports received from the districts, a proposal was sent by the Chief Electoral Officer to increase the number of tables for counting of postal votes, after which permission has been given to install a maximum of five tables. Collectors have been authorised to count postal votes by setting up two to five tables in most of the Assembly seats. According to information, postal votes will be counted first. Its results will also be declared earlier than the EVM votes. Apart from this, no candidate, counting agent will be able to carry any material of any kind like watch, mobile, tobacco, cigarette, beedi, paan, calculator, water, snacks etc. The counting agent will be allowed to take only pen, pencil, plain paper or notepad into the counting room.