The preparations have been almost completed for counting of votes for the seven Assembly constituencies of Ranchi at Pandara Bazaar on Tuesday.
Although, the counting is scheduled to start at 8 am, the counting personnel have been directed to reach the centre latest by 6 am and report to the concerned officers. On an average, 16 to 17 rounds of counting will be done for each of the constituencies. Adequate security arrangements have been made by the district police at various locations on the counting day.
“The three layer security at the counting centre will continue till the next day of counting while the security will be beefed up around the centre deploying extra security for important leaders after the counting is concluded,” said SSP Prabhat Kumar. Focus will be made on three issues making the city a no entry zone for the heavy vehicles on Tuesday, added the SSP.
Adequate security forces on the other hand, will also be deployed at various locations like Firayalal Chowk and party offices in order to maintain law and order in the city. According to the SSP, proper arrangements have also been made to escort the winning candidates. Final review of the deployment however, will be done on Monday for last minute changes as per the requirement, said the SSP. Training programme for the counting personnel including observers, supervisors as well as assistants was concluded on Saturday in Ranchi. Three counting personnel for each table have been deputed for the counting day.
Counting will be done on 149 tables with a maximum of 26 seats for Hatia Assembly seat while a minimum of sixteen tables have been set up for Silli. Three counting personnel have been deployed for each of the tables making a total of count of 447 people while 20 per cent of the total count (89) personnel will be kept reserved. A total of 1000 counting personnel have been deployed for the purpose for Tuesday.
Separate people have been deployed for sealing the Voter’s Verifying Audit Trial (VVPAT) slips. According to an official 10 people each for Hatia, Ranchi and Kanke have been deployed for the purpose. Postal ballots will be counted first following which the process of counting of votes registered in the EVM machines will be started. Each of the counting halls has been provided public address system on which announcement of counting results after the completion of each of the rounds will be made on it.
Four people have been assigned the job of counting the postal ballot papers making a total count to 28 for seven Assembly seats. Final round of training however, will be done at the District Collectorate on Monday. Training will be imparted to the counting observers, assistants as well as micro observers during the last round.
The security deployment for the strong room will be continued even on Tuesday during the counting. One company each of CRPF, JAP-I as well as state have been deployed round the clock for the security of the makeshift strong rooms. A close eye is also being kept on the Strong rooms through two dozen CCTV cameras at different strategic locations inside the premises.