The Election Commission held discussions through video-conferencing with election-related officers in Madhya Pradesh regarding counting of the lok Sabha votes on May 16.
The commission directed all returning officers in the state, district election officers and assistant election officers to exercise caution in counting and declaring of results of every round of counting. From commission's side, Deputy Election Commissioner Sudhir Tripathi, Director General Ashish Shrivastava and Sumit Mukherjee took part in the video-conferencing. Chief Electoral Officer Jaideep Govind also participated from New Delhi. Directives were given to Madhya Pradesh Additional Chief Electoral Officer Vl Kanta Rao and all 51 district collectors.
Ashish Shrivastava said that all directives of the commission regarding counting should be followed and complied strictly. Counting should be impartial and transparent. Results of a constituency should not be declared until information about counting is received from all concerned Vidhan Sabha constituencies. He informed that a micro observer will also be deployed at every counting table. Round-wise information from Vidhan Sabha constituencies should be requisitioned through fax, e-mail or through an authorised person in case it is nearby.
After receiving information, it must be verified through telephone. Returning officers will be responsible for verification of counting-related figures. Counting and tabulation of postal ballots should be done in the same hall at RO headquarters.
Shrivastava said that counting process must not be halted midway through in any case. If an EVM develops snag then commission must be informed immediately and it should be got repaired at once. He clarified that Genesis software has been provided by the commission for trends and results of counting. Control rooms will collect round-wise information of vote counting. As soon as a round is completed, data regarding it should be fed in Genesis software. Caution should also be exercised in counting and tabulation of postal ballots. He directed for closely monitoring everything taken to counting venues.
Sudhir Tripathi said that one counting supervisor each will reach all district headquarters in the morning of May 14. He directed districts to send certificates pertaining to strong rooms by May 15.