Vijayawada: Chief electoral officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena on Sunday reviewed with district election officers (DEOs) arrangements for counting of votes through video conference.
He advised DEOs that for hassle-free counting on June 4, they send away troublemakers from the counting halls without showing any mercy.
The CEO indicated that the contest in the assembly and parliament elections in AP has been neck to neck. Thus there are chances of emotional outbursts before, during and after the counting. Authorities must be wary about this and there must be no compromise in proper maintenance of law and order.
Mukesh Kumar instructed DEOs to act tough against those who disturb or become violent during the counting of votes. He directed officials to immediately seal the EVMs soon after completion of counting of votes and secure them.
“Do not defer this task,” he remarked.
The CEO asked DEOs to allow political parties to depute a counting agent at every counting table. He said in case no contestant is present at the returning officer’s table, an agent could be permitted. He directed DEOs to allow counting agents into the counting halls only if they are carrying Form-17C, a pen or pencil, and a plain sheet of paper. He cautioned that no agent must be permitted inside the counting hall if s/he carries anything beyond the permitted items.
On fire safety, he instructed officials to get a certification from fire service authorities ahead of the counting. He wanted the CEO to plan proper entry and exit points to the counting halls, along with sign boards indicating the entry and exit points.
