With about a fortnight left for the election counting exercise, the district administration seems all set for the D-day. East Singhbhum deputy commissioner cum returning officer for Jamshedpur parliamentary constituency Amitabh Kaushal accompanied by senior administrative officials including East Singhbhum SSP Amol V.
Homkar on Wednesday carried out inspection of the Strong Room along with political parties representatives. The DC directed that section 144 of the CrPC would be strictly implemented across the area of Jamshedpur Cooperative College where EVM’s are housed.
He also instructed political party supporters not to crowd the approach road to Jamshedpur Cooperative College the Strong Room for EVMs— on the counting day (May 16). Kaushal said that no person other than candidates, their election/ counting agents, public servants on election duty or persons authorised by Election Commission would be permitted to enter counting centres.
About the arrangements for counting and security measures taken by the authorities, the returning officer said that tight security was in place at the counting centre to avoid any untoward incidents.The overcrowding on the road which used to increase as the counting progress in the day would be stopped. The district administration has also issued a dos and don’t for the counting agents on the counting day.
“We have been asked to report at the counting centre on time. We have been asked not to bring cell phones inside the strong room and water bottles, launch boxes. We have to submit our pictures too,” said Ganesh Sarkar, a representative of JMM. Each party will be allowed to depute maximum of 15 counting agents for each assembly segments.
“There are six Assembly segments (Ghatshila, Baharagora, Potka, Jugsalai, Jamshedpur East and Jamshedpur West) in Jamshedpur parliamentary constituency. There will be 14 counting tables in each assembly segments with an assistant returning officer (ARO) deputed for each of the segments. Counting will be held simultaneously in all assembly segments from 8 am.
Counting agents will be deputed in 14 tables and one with ARO for each assembly segment,” said the deputy commissioner.Political party candidates and counting agents have been asked to be present at the Strong Room after 7 am and the counting will commence sharp at 8 am.
Meanwhile, the senior police superintendent Homkar has asked the policemen to get strict with the people or, for that matter, political party members who throng the strong room area in drunken state of mind.
A senior official also informed that there is no requirement for any additional security arrangements inside the strong room premises, the campus of Jamshedpur Co-operative College, however, on the counting day local police will be deployed outside the premises, as per the need.