The returning officers of the 29 lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, collectors and district election officers have been directed to ensure all preparations for counting to be held on May 16 as per the Election Commission’s directives. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer has given directives regarding selection of counting venues and appointment of polling staff and counting agents.
District election officers have been directed to ensure total compliance of these directives. Arrangements for counting staff is the most important issue about which directives have been given. The districts will have to do first, second and third randomisation of counting staff and micro observers. Appointment of counting agent will be made only after receiving application in form-18. Counting agents will be provided photo ID cards, badges and full arrangements for counting. Directives have also been given to train them.
It has been directed to ensure that no unauthorised person enters the counting hall. The candidates should also be informed that Central or State Ministers, Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers etc cannot be appointed as counting agents. Therefore, their names should not be proposed.
The districts have been directed to make arrangements for counting agents and counting tables in the counting centres. Security personnel and polling staff should be trained on time. Maximum of 14 tables can be placed in one counting hall for one Vidhan Sabha constituency and permission will have to be sought from the commission for placing extra tables.
Directives have been given to place computer table near the table of RO for feeding round-wise results in computer. This work will not be done in separate room in any case.Directives have also been given to make arrangements for blackboard/whiteboards to display round-wise results. Names of candidates and round plan will be written on the board before displaying round-wise results so that supervisors can verify and place them at the prescribed place on the board. Directives have been given to send reports about completion of counting venues and counting halls by supervisors positively by May 15.
Model layout of counting hall has also been sent to districts. Directives have been given to ensure entire arrangements including parking, firefighting, uninterrupted power supply, generator/inverter, toilet, security etc. at counting venues.Directives have been given for appointing senior officers to manage communication room/media centre/public communication room at every counting centre. For this, directives have been given to send names and mobile numbers of such officers to the CEO office.
Each media centre will have tables, chairs, telephone, fax, network, data communication, mobile etc. Directives have been given to appoint a senior officer of Information Department as nodal officer of media centre.Directives have also been given to keep adequate stationery, have videography of every incident and provide its CDs to the candidates. On the commission’s directives, instructions to preserve these CDs have also been given.