Ahead of counting of votes scheduled for Assembly polls on December 11, Mahasamund District Electoral Officer (DEO) and Collector Him Shikhar Gupta on Saturday briefed the representatives of political parties and their agents on different aspects of counting of votes.
Listing out the directives of Election Commission of India for counting of votes, DEO Him Shikhar Gupta and Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh, urged the leaders of political parties to cooperate in peaceful and smooth conduct of counting.
The candidates, their representatives and agents assured for extending all cooperation to the administration. The officials also replied to the queries raised by representatives of political parties.Gupta spoke in detail about the series of processes adopted mainly for counting starting from opening of strong room to declaration of result and sealing of EVM after it. The whole process will be completed in presence of candidates.
Counting agents should not take pen, calculator, mobile, electronic device inside the counting room. They will be allowed the tabulation sheet and ballot account, Gupta said.
It was informed that first postal ballot will be counted at 8.00 am and then from 8.30 am counting from EVMs will be held.
Similarly, addressing a press conference here, Gupta said those having accredited by the Returning Officer will be allowed to enter the premises.
No static video-recording of counting of votes will be allowed, he said.
Meanwhile Bemetara District Electoral Officer and Collector Mahadeo Kawre also briefed the media on the preparations made for counting of votes.
He said that Bemetara district has three assembly constituencies having total of 850 polling centres.
The Saja constituency has 285 polling centres where 99 polling centres fall under Damdha assembly constituency of Durg while in Bemetara constituency there are total of 267 polling centres out of which 22 polling centres fall in Durg district. Navagarh constituency has 298 polling centres, he said.