India
oi-Vicky Nanjappa
Patna, November 9: The Electoral Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the counting of votes on November 10 for the Bihar assembly elections as the state awaits the results of a close election.
The poll panel said it has established a total of 55 counting centers, which house 414 aisles, spread across the 38 districts of the state that voted in three phases on Oct. 28, Nov. 3, and Nov. 7.
Each of the three top count centers has been established in four districts of East Champaran (which has 12 electoral districts), Gaya (10 electoral districts), Siwan (eight electoral districts) and Begusarai (seven). The other districts have one or two counting centers each.
55 counting centers, 78 CAPF cos, CCTV: everything ready for November 10 while Bihar awaits the election results
Considering the fact that the coronavirus is raging in the state, steps have been taken to ensure that COVID guidelines are strictly followed during the count. Masks will be mandatory to enter the counting centers, in addition to disinfectants will be kept in adequate quantity there.
However, the results may be delayed for a few hours as the polls were held in the middle of the pandemic. As a precautionary measure, the EC reduced the number of votes per voting booth and this led to a higher number of booths as a result of which the number of EVMs also increased.
In the state capital, Patna, the votes of the assembly’s 14 constituencies will be counted in a single center established at AN College. The survey panel said it is preparing 30 count hallways at the university. Bihar’s electoral director HR Srinivasa said the Election Commission has established a three-level security system for the security rooms (which house the electronic voting machines) and the counting centers.
The inner core is being guarded by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), then there is the Bihar Military Police (BMP) and then the district police, he told reporters. “We have deployed 19 CAPF companies just for the security of the security rooms and counting centers. In addition, we have 59 CAPF companies to ensure law and order during and after the counting process,” he said.
A CAPF company comprises around 100 people. The executive director said that the Electoral Commission will strictly deal with any “antisocial” elements that are indulged in “vandalism” during or after the vote. The additional general director of the police (headquarters), Jitendra Kumar, said that CCTV cameras were installed in the control rooms.
“Their display is in the offices of the District Election Officials. And they are also being monitored regularly by the Chief Election Officer,” he said. After the counting begins at 8 am, the mail-in ballots, issued by the polling station staff and service voters, will open first and then EVM ballots. In the Bhagalpur district, which has two counting centers, Government Polytechnic College, Barari and Women’s ITI, preparations are being made for the November 10 results for seven seats in the assembly. Display screens are being installed and two tents are being erected at each counting center for journalists and security personnel. Arrangements are being made to set up seven tables in each of the 14 classrooms.
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Prohibition orders have been imposed under article 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in and around counting centers to prevent the gathering of people. In the Bhojpur district, the votes of the seven constituencies of the assembly will be counted in a center established in Samiti Godown Bazaar, Arrah. Most of the exit polls released after the third and final round of polls suggest that Mahagathbandhan, led by Tejashwi Yadav, could have an advantage over the NDA. But who will actually get the magic number of 122 in the house of 243 will be known only after the votes are counted on Tuesday.
