The counting procedure of the recently conducted bypoll for Silli Assembly constituency will be carried out at Pandra Bazaar Samiti-Ranchi today under strict surveillance of district administrative. Senior officials of Ranchi district administration addressing a press meet on Wednesday said that all necessary arrangements have been made at the venue.

“The counting will begin from 8 AM. Following the instructions, strong rooms will be opened around 7 AM. Starting with service voters’ count, as many as 14 counting rounds will be carried out by the officials before the declaration of final results. Security has been beefed up to avert untoward incidents,” said Ranchi DC cum District Election Officer, Rai Mahimapat Ray.

“As many as 25 counting officials along with 25 supervisors including 25 micro observers have been deputed in Ranchi. 215 service votes (voting done through postal ballot) will be counted by the officials in the first round followed by Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) vote counts,” added Ray. According to Ranchi DC, Silli by-poll recorded an impressive polling percentage (75.91 per cent) with huge voters’ turnout.

Appreciating the role of district administrative officials, Ray further added, “The figures are quite encouraging. As per the district administration’s record, 74, 632 male voters cast their votes in Silli by-poll while 72,844 female voters came out of their houses to vote. Here the role of government’s ongoing programme Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) had played a major role in increasing the participation of public in electoral process especially in this by-poll.”

Meanwhile, SSP Kuldeep Dwivedi assured that deputation of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in sufficient number have been done at the counting centre-Pandra Bazaar after the vulnerability mapping of the spot. Furthermore, he appealed to the public to stay away from rumors.

Around 278 polling centres were made in Silli block during by-poll conducted on May 28.