Jharkhand Polls: Final preparations underway for Nov 23 vote counting in Daltonganj

THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK

Daltonganj, Nov 18: Final touches are being given to the November 23 counting of votes. Officials are mugging hard to have it as smooth and easy as the Vidhan Sabha polling which was a zero-incident election.

All human resources of the civil side drafted for the November 23 counting of votes are to report to the counting venue at 5.30 am sharp.

Votes of all the five assembly constituencies would be counted in the multi-purpose exam hall of the GLA College Daltonganj.

With the clock striking 7 am polled EVMs will be reached under the strictest of security from the strong room to the counting hall.

The near 100-meter distance between the strong room and the counting venue will have a wall of armed to the teeth security personnel and senior officials.

Reserve personnel to handle emergencies

Stating this, the Nodal Officer of the Karmik Koshang Md Jawed Hussain, a 2018 batch IAS officer said, “Everyone has to be a time stickler. It’s 5.30 am sharp. So, everyone has to be there.”

Nodal Officer Jawed known by his first name said, “Each counting table will have one counting assistant, counting supervisor, micro-observer and peon.”

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“There is a 20 per cent reserve of human resources for each of the four counting assistants, counting supervisor, micro-observer and even for peon,” added Jawed.

The reserve human resources are to tide over any expediency where any health issue with any of the personnel engaged in the various counting works arises.

A look back at past occurrence

In the early nineties, there was found a deadly snake slithering between the tables at the then-counting venue which used to be the Bairya Bazar Samiti.

The snake caused such a panic that one 58-plus-year-old counting official fell from the bench he was sitting only to get his right hand badly sprained.

In those days ballot papers were counted with fingers and this official had his right hand sprained. He was replaced then.

On being asked if a counting assistant has any advanced knowledge as to which counting table he has to handle to which Jawed said, “No. A counting assistant will know about his counting table right there at the venue.”

Transparency and accessibility of results

He assured there would be a very fair, transparent and highly meticulous counting of votes.

Again asked as to how a common man desirous to know the result will have access to it sitting at home to which the Nodal Officer of the Karmik Koushang said, “One can have eci.result. It will give the poll results.”

There would be a huge digital screen and public address system for the announcement of the poll results, informed the Nodal Officer.

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