CHANDIGARH: All arrangements have been made for the counting of votes on Thursday, when the Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the fate of 1,304 candidates contesting multi-cornered elections for the 117-member Punjab legislative assembly, for which voting was held on February 20. Thursday has been declared a dry day till the counting of votes is completed.
In view of the counting of votes, prohibitory measures under Section 144 of CrPC have been imposed in all districts and gathering of people outside the counting centres is prohibited. As per EC instructions, only two people can accompany the winning candidate or his official representative to the counting centre to collect the certificate. Even victory processions are prohibited.
Punjab chief electoral officer S Karuna Raju said three-tier security measures have been set up with deployment of 45 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) at all the 117 counting centres set up at 66 locations across the state and 7,500 personnel deputed for the process. The counting of votes would start from 8am, he said.
Out of over 2.14 crore voters, Punjab had recorded nearly 72% voting this time, which is nearly 5% less than the polling in the 2017 assembly elections. Information of results can be obtained from the official website of the CEO office ‘https://www.ceopunjab.gov.in’ or ‘https://results.eci.gov.in’. Results can also be obtained from Voter Helpline Mobile Application.
A maximum of 14 counting tables would be set up at each counting centre. Separate tables will be set up for counting Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot issued to service voters, officers and staff engaged in election duty.
The 100-metre radius around the counting centre area has been declared a ‘pedestrian zone’ and no one will be allowed to drive in that zone. To prevent the entry of any unauthorised persons in the counting centres, the first cordoning point has been established at a radius of 100 metres, where senior magistrates along with the required police force will be stationed. The second cordoning point would be at the gate of the counting centre, where the state armed police forces have been deployed, while the third at the entrance of the counting hall to be manned by the CAPF.
Mobile phones, iPads, laptops or any other such electronic device which can record sound and video are not allowed inside counting centres, except for observers deputed by the ECI. Every counting centre will have a media centre, where information about the counting rounds would be shared with the journalists. As many as 3,562 identity cards have been issued to journalists for their entry at counting centres. However, except from the still and video cameramen deployed for government record, no one else will be allowed to permanently station the video or still camera at the counting centre.
