State Congress in a memorandum to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Madhya Pradesh Jaideep Govind alleged that at many places District Returning Officers (DROs) are trying to create hurdles in the counting of ballots scheduled on December 8.
Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee Spokesman JP Dhanopia on Friday handed over a memorandum to CEO alleging that at many places district collectors who are also DROs are not following the standard guidelines set up by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and are doing their willfulness. These DROs are neglecting the set norms for counting tables and poling agents and in the process are trying to create hurdles during the counting of ballots in their respective districts, he added.
Dhanopia said, “The ECI has made provisions of placing 14 counting tables compulsorily for every assembly constituency but in many districts the DROs are placing lesser than 14 tables.”
Dhanopia further alleged that the DROs are not even taking note of the objections raised by the candidates in this regard.
He demanded in the memorandum that it should be ensured that a minimum of 14 tables are placed in every assembly constituency and where number of voter are higher there arrangements be made for extra tables and also issue the entry passes for counting agents o candidates for extra tables, issuing of free CD of counting to the candidates and placing of extra counting table for postal ballots if the number of postal ballots is more than 500. He requested the CEO to control the willfulness of such DROs so that the counting of ballots could take place without hurdles.