Amidst tight security, the counting of votes for the 29 Parliamentary constituencies in the State will be held from 8 am on May 16 at 51 district headquarters.
This was informed at a meeting with representatives of nationally recognised political parties.
The meeting was chaired by Chief Electoral Officer Jaideep Govind where information was given about the directives and instructions of the Election Commission regarding counting.
Additional Chief Electoral Officer Vl Kanta Rao and Joint Chief Electoral Officer SS Bansal were also present on the occasion.
Political parties’ representatives praised the CEO and his office for fair conduct of the lok Sabha elections.
CEO Govind informed that polling percentage in the 3-phase lok Sabha elections in the State was 61.57 per cent, which is 9 per cent more than last lok Sabha elections.
He informed that female polling percentage has also increased considerably. The CEO informed that 67,152 ballot units and 55,260 control units were used in the lok Sabha elections.
The number of counting centres in the State is 321 where 3255 tables will be placed for EVM vote counting and 56 for counting of postal ballots.
The CEO informed that the counting staff includes 29 returning officers, 321 assistant returning officers (EVM), 56 assistant returning officers (postal ballots), 3,255 micro observers, 3,255 counting supervisors and 3,255 counting assistants. Services of one technical team will be taken at every district headquarters.
Additional Chief Electoral Officer Vl Kanta Rao informed at the meeting about rationalistion of counting staff.
He informed that the first random selection of counting supervisors, assistant counting supervisors and micro observers will be made through the software provided by the commission.
He informed that in the presence of officers and employees will be selected Vidhan Sabha constituencies for counting duty in the second randomisation 24 hours before counting.
In the third randomisation at 5 pm on May 16, counting tables will be allotted. Services of only gazetted officers will be taken for counting of postal ballots.
The meeting was informed that the postal ballots will be counted first at 8 am on May 16.
The counting of votes from the EVMs will be started 30 minutes after the start of counting of the postal ballots.
About Genesis Software of the commission, Kanta Rao informed that this will be given real time counting trends whose link will be provided on the CEO’s website.
Information was given at the meeting about webcasting of strong rooms, control rooms and media.
The meeting was attended by Rajaram of the Bahujan Samaj Party, SH lodha of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shailendra Kumar Shaily of the Communist Party, Subhash Chandra of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), JP Dhanopiya and Vineet Godha of the Indian National Congress and Raju Bhatnagar of the Nationalist Congress Party.