As many as 15,244 officers will be deployed for the counting of votes for the 29 lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh at 51 district headquarters on May 16. These include 29 returning officers and 22 district election officers.
Besides, 321 AROs (assistant returning officers) will also be deployed. The postal ballots will be counted separately for which 56 AROs will be deployed. The officers will be deployed as per requirement at 3,255 tables to be placed for counting of the EVM votes. These include 3,255 each micro observers, counting supervisors and counting assistants. One technical team will be deployed at every district headquarter to ensure that no EVM develops snag. About 5,000 additional staff will also be involved in counting process.
A State-level control room will be set up at the CEO’s office to exchange counting-related information. Apart from five telephone lines, the control room will also have facilities of fax, etc. The control rooms will also be set up at all district headquarters. The officers will also be deployed at these control rooms. The counting centres will have contact room and media room where officers of Public Relations Departments will be deployed.
Besides, 17 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will be deployed for security of strong rooms. There will be tight security in all districts on counting day. Three-tier security will be maintained at counting centres manned by local police, SAF and large number of Home Guards. The corridor from strong rooms to counting centres through which the EVMs will be taken for counting will also be heavily guarded. Employees of public works, electricity, revenue and other departments will also be deployed to ensure smooth counting.