With just one day left for the much awaited result of lok Sabha elections, preparation at the counting centre at Pandra Bazar Samiti is almost complete. On the other hand, political parties and voters are anxiously waiting for the moment of truth to taste success of their hard labour and ascertain the level of their wisdom.
The district administration has created temporary barricades to segregate counting areas and demarcated areas for agents of political parties. As many as 134 tables will be used for counting of votes polled in Ranchi parliamentary constituency and about 402 counting officials will be deputed for counting the votes on May 16. Counting process will be carried out according to assembly constituency and training for officials deputed will complete by today. The District Electoral Office (DEO) will be assisted by as many as six officials and 14 operators.
“All preparations are complete and we will do briefing (of officials) today,” said Ranchi DC Vinay Kumar Choubey. To control mob frenzy after declaration of results the district administration has decided to block normal vehicles from entering the stretch between Kanti Tand and Piska More and allow administration’s vehicles only to enter the stretch and the Pandra Bazaar Samiti premises. The administration will release a map of no entry zones on counting day.
Meanwhile, political parties have started claiming victory of their candidate and a complete routing of rivals that are in the poll fray. Notwithstanding exit polls political parties have gone into euphoric mode and stake claim for a better performance in the elections. “We all are excited about counting. We are in a strong position at five seats and expect those seats to win,” said vice-president of AJSU Party, Pravin Prabhakar.
Even as party workers are excited about the judgment day of General Election-2014, agents stationed near the strong rooms at Pandra from April 17 are anxiously waiting for the day. The day that will mark the culmination of marathon lok Sabha elections will mean an end to their ordeal of almost 20 days. “We braved heat waves during day and the night was equally tough. But our discomfort will be undone if our candidate wins,” said Ramchandra Mahto, a BJP agent deputed at Pandra Bazaar Samiti.
Amid the euphoria and din that has gripped counting, voters are waiting for the results with bated breath. Those who braved scorching heat to cast their vote believe that the results are as much a test of a candidate’s integrity as the wisdom of voters who vote for a particular candidate. Nation’s fate comes to the top of their mind when the question boils down to the party that will form the next government at the centre. “All of us maintain secrecy about the candidate we vote but deep down the heart somewhere we know that it is the test of our belief in our judgment as well. That gives rise to excitement and nervousness at the same time,” said septuagenarian RN Sharma.