After the polling on May 12, the attention of both the major political parties has shifted to Old Jail Bhopal, the strong room where EVMs have been kept.
Over half a dozen BJP workers are maintaining a strict vigil on the happenings in the strong room round-the-clock in a small hall adjacent to the entrance of the Old Jail premises, which has been cordoned off since the EVMs there.
These party workers change duties in shifts and keep their eyes glued to the LED screens airing live footage of inside the strong room round the clock.
“We are here since May 13 after EVMs arrived, said Pappu Vilas, the former BJP corporator who heads the team manning the supervising duty for BJP candidate Pragya Thakur. He confirmed that Pragya Thakur had visited the strong room on Tuesday night.
Congress candidate Digvijay Singh however hasn’t visited the strong room as of now.
On being asked what made the BJP to guard the strong room, Vilas pointed finger towards Congress leader Syed Shahid Hussain, the general secretary of district Congress, saying they have started this trend and we are just following.
To add, led by Hussain, the Congress workers had guarded the EVMs 24x7 during assembly polls 2018.
Hussain smilingly confirmed that Congress workers were present outside the strong room until counting last year claiming they did not believe then BJP Government.
In small groups, we are allowed to visit inside the strong room 7-8 times daily, claimed Hussain. Workers of both the parties however exuded confidence of a win.
RSS following unrestrained statements from the sadhvi post her nomination had deployed volunteers from across the country to oversee her campaign.
Sources claimed that both the party candidates are also seeking regular updates from the venue through their sources.
The premises have cordoned off the area with heavy barricading at the entrance of the venue.
Only authorised persons are allowed to enter the premises as authorities are busy making arrangements for the counting that takes place on May 23.
The para-military jawans are guarding the inner circle of security in the Old Jail while the outer security is with State Armed Force jawans and district police. Senior police officers remain present inside the venue to keep a tab on security measures.