Tamil Nadu polls: All arrangements in place for vote counting, says CEO

A total of 10,545 counting personnel have been drafted for counting duty, supported by 4,624 micro-observers to ensure transparency and integrity of the counting process.
Polling was held on April 23 in all the 75,064 polling stations for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
Polling was held on April 23 in all the 75,064 polling stations for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election.Photo| Express
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Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik on Sunday said all arrangements have been made for the counting of votes at 62 designated counting centres across the state on Monday.

The preperations include a comprehensive three-tier security plan, the CEC said.

Elections to 234 Assembly segments were held in the state on April 23.

The incumbent DMK regime has fought big to retain power, and its archrival AIADMK has slogged to win power after five years as the principal opposition party.

Actor-politician Vijay-led TVK's entry into the electoral arena has made predictions about the winning prospects tough and the Tamil nationalist Seeman's NTK is another factor in the polls.

The counting of votes will commence at 8 AM with the postal ballot counting and at 8.30 AM, counting of votes recorded in EVMs will commence.

Approximately 1.25 lakh personnel which includes officials, and micro-observers on vote-counting duty and police have been deployed.

Polling was held on April 23 in all the 75,064 polling stations for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election.

For the purpose of counting of votes recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), 234 counting halls have been arranged.

An additional 240 halls have been designated for the counting of Postal Ballots and Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballots (ETPBs).

A total of 3,324 counting tables will be used for the counting of polled votes, Chief Electoral Officer Patnaik said in an official release.

The counting operations will be conducted by the Returning Officers (ROs) with the help of Assistant Returning Officers (AROs).

A total of 10,545 counting personnel have been drafted for counting duty, supported by 4,624 micro-observers to ensure transparency and integrity of the counting process.

Police sources said approximately one lakh personnel are being deployed for security on vote counting day.

The Election Commission has deputed 234 Counting Observers, one for each Assembly constituency, to oversee the counting proceedings and ensure strict compliance of norms.

Polling was held on April 23 in all the 75,064 polling stations for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
22,000 cops to be deployed across Chennai to ensure smooth vote counting

For the counting of postal ballots, one counting table will be provided for every 500 ballots.

In this regard, 1,135 additional AROs have been deployed.

A comprehensive three-tier security arrangement has been established at all counting centres to ensure the integrity and smooth conduct of the counting process.

Outer perimeter of 100 meters around each counting centre will be guarded by adequate police personnel.

The second tier of security covering the entry gates of the counting premises will be secured by the State Armed police.

The third tier covers the "innermost security layer ," including the entrance to counting halls and the EVM strong rooms and here, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will have authority.

In addition to the local police and State Armed Police, 65 companies of the CAPF have been deployed at the counting centres to further strengthen security arrangements.

Further, as a first-time initiative, the Election Commission has introduced a QR code-based Photo Identity Card system through ECINET with the objective of preventing unauthorised entry into counting centres.

At the third and innermost security checkpoint, entry will be permitted only upon successful verification through QR code scanning.

The QR code-based Photo Identity Cards shall be mandatory for all categories of authorised personnel permitted entry into the counting centres and halls, including Returning Officers, AROs, counting staff, technical personnel, candidates, election agents, and counting agents, among others.

The round wise results of all the Assembly Constituencies will be announced by the concerned Returning Officer using the public address system at the respective center and the same will be reflected in the ECINET app.

The results can also be viewed from the portal, results.eci.gov.in.

A number of exit polls have predicted a win for the DMK-led alliance, a pretty close fight and an impressive electoral debut for Vijay-led TVK.

AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, leader of opposition in the outgoing Assembly and former CM, has rejected the exit polls and expressed strong confidence of his party forming a government with majority.

Former AIADMK Minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji speaking to reporters in Virudhunagar ruled out chances of a "hung Assembly" and said his party would win polls and that Palaniswami will assume office as chief minister.

Meanwhile, the ruling DMK alleged "plans by BJP to orchestrate disruptions" on May 4 at vote counting centres, sensitive locations, including party offices and claimed apprehensions about large-scale law and order issues and demanded that the election authorities take steps to prevent untoward incidents.

Writing to Archana Patnaik, DMK Organisation Secretary RS Bharathi said his party was in receipt of "credible information" indicating that on the date of counting of votes there are plans by the BJP and other political parties at the instance of the ruling party at the Centre to orchestrate disruptions at counting centres.

"Such activities are also apprehended to extend to areas in and around counting booths, as well as other sensitive locations, including party offices," the DMK leader alleged.

Rejecting the allegations, Tamil Nadu BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy said "this shows that the DMK, which is expecting a great defeat, is rattled and afraid of the BJP."

He told PTI: "The DMK wants to come up with reasons for their impending defeat; if the DMK does not resort to violence the vote counting process will go on very smoothly."

AIADMK leader and Rajya Sabha MP IS Inbadurai referred to an allegation --especially from Thoothukudi and Kanchipuram districts-- that in some places, in the guise of press people, some "DMK men belonging to the IT Wing" have got authorisation to enter counting centres.

"If this allegation is found to be true, steps must be taken by authorities to prevent the entry of fake press people into counting centres," he told reporters at the Secretariat and added that he has submitted a representation to the election officials in this regard.

Across the state, government-run TASMAC retail liquor outlets will be closed on Monday.

In the April 23 Assembly polls, 4.87 crore electors exercised their franchise --2.52 crore women, 2.35 crore men; 4,517 others-- and the polling percentage was 85.10.

(With inputs from PTI)

Polling was held on April 23 in all the 75,064 polling stations for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
DMK flags appointment of ‘outsiders’ as counting agents

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