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Monday, May 12, 2014

MEETING DISCUSSES ARRANGEMENTS FOR COUNTING PROCESS IN EAST DISTRICT

Party supporters to be segregated into Guards Ground and Paljor Stadium on counting day
GANGTOK, 09 May [IPR]: A meeting was held yesterday at the Conference Hall of District Administrative Centre here between the candidates and representatives of different political parties and the Returning Officer and the Superintendent of Police, East to discuss the arrangements for the counting process which is scheduled to be held on 16 May from 8 a.m. onwards.
After a discussion with the candidates and the representatives of political parties present in the meeting it was decided that the Guards Ground at Tathangchen would be used for the gathering of public and supporters of all the National parties and the SDF while the Paljor Stadium shall be used for the general public and supporters of SKM, Trinamool Congress and Independent candidates. Announcement of result through PA system will be made at both the places.
At the outset, District Collector, East, A.K Singh expressed his thanks and gratitude to all the candidates and representatives of the political parties for their cooperation with the smooth and peaceful conduct of General Election 2014 and expected the same level of cooperation in future.
The District Collector, East also briefed about the counting arrangements and the counting process to be held on 16 May. He informed that there will be seven tables separately for Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies for counting of votes from EVM machines and two tables each for counting of postal ballots. He informed that the counting process will start at 8 am with the counting of postal ballot and 30 minutes after starting the counting of postal ballots, the counting of EVMs will start.
He briefed all the candidates about the procedure to appoint counting agents for each table and clarified that each candidate will get to appoint one polling agent per table including  the tables meant for counting of postal ballots.
He also asked the candidates/election agents to submit Form 18 for appointment of counting agents latest by 5 pm on 13 May and the identity cards to the candidates shall be issued accordingly. He informed the gathering that preparation for counting is under way in the Auditorium Hall at TNA and shall be completed latest by 12 May. The exchange of postal ballot with different districts shall be held on 14 May at TNA, Gangtok in the presence of all the candidates.
The District Collector, East informed the candidates that only Officials directly related to the counting process including the Returning Officer, Asstt. Returning Officer, Counting Supervisors, Counting Assistants and other officials and staff shall be allowed in the counting hall apart from the candidates and their counting agents.
The entry of the counting hall shall be strictly on the basis of identity cards. No mobile phones or electronic gadgets shall be allowed inside the counting hall and frisking of each person entering to the counting hall shall be done at the 2nd cordon itself.
The District Collector informed that a Media Centre has been deployed in the Golden Temple, a building next to the Counting hall at TNA with all the communication facilities for the media persons and the DIO (East) has been appointed to coordinate for the purpose.
Arrangements have also been made by the RO for announcement of the result and to accommodate the common public and supporters of various political parties.
It was informed by the District Collector, East that apart from these arrangements the result for each round will be available on the Official Website of Election Commission of India, the Official Website of East District is www.eastsikkim.in. The Official Facebook page of DM, Gangtok will also constantly update the counting result of each round.
The Superintendent of Police, East Sikkim informed the gathering about the arrangement for maintenance of Law & Order and he assured that adequate Security forces will be provided in the entire district to tackle any Law & Order problem. In consultation with the Returning Officer and all the candidates he announced that 2 vehicles each will be allowed for the candidates of Assembly Constituency and 3 vehicles for the candidates of Parliamentary Constituency at TNA Ground and all other vehicles will be diverted to the Paljor Stadium, Guards Ground and other earmarked places. He assured that all the security arrangements have been made.
In addition, District Collector, East, AK Singh informed that all the Sector Magistrates and Sector Police Officials along with Videographer will be deployed in the respective areas from 12 May onwards for the management of Law & Order and the Control room of District Administration with the toll free help line number 04592-200055 will also be active to receive information from Public and prompt action on the complaint received. All the candidates across all the political parties and representatives assured the Returning Officer and the Administration for their full cooperation for maintaining peace and tranquility in the post poll scenario. They expressed their satisfaction with the arrangements made by the Returning Officer so far and expressed their full faith with the Election team.
After the meeting, the candidates/election agents visited the strong room with the Returning Officer at TNA Auditorium and expressed their satisfaction at the arrangements made for its security.

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