Deputy Election Commissioner of India (ECI) Vinod Zutshi on Saturday said a total transparency would be maintained for counting for the 230 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh beginning at 8 am on Sunday.
While talking to mediapersons, Zutsi said, “Counting of postal ballots will begin half-an-hour before counting of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Besides, returning officers, assistant returning officers will also be deputed during counting of postal ballots. Counting agents from political parties will also be present as the number of postal ballots increased this time.”
To a query about Congress” complaints in which the party alleged that the BJP regime was mounting pressure on government officials to cast votes in the party”s favours, Zutshi ruled out such things were taking place and made it clear that the ECI had addressed all confusions regarding postal ballots related problem as raised by some political parties. He said a review meeting was conducted today regarding counting and asked the officials concerned to follow the Commission”s instructions strictly.
Zutshi informed that the summary revisions of electoral rolls for all States, except the five States where Assembly elections are held, for the 2014 general elections had already begun from September this year and the final draft of electoral rolls would be published on January 6 next year. However, summary revision of electoral rolls for general elections would begin for these five States from December 16 and it would continue till December 31. The final draft would be published on January 21.
Talking about the factors for higher voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh in this election, Zutshi attributed it to Systematic Voters” Education And Electoral Participation (SVEEP), cleaning of electoral rolls and enhanced access of voters due to increasing the number of polling stations. He said that better turnout of voters in the Naxalism affected areas like Balaghat and Singrauli took place due to deployment of adequate Central Armed Police Force,aerial survey using helicopters and other factors applicable to the other constituencies in the State.