Dibrugarh district administration chalks out plan for counting day
From our Staff Correspondent
Dibrugarh, May 17: With 38 hours only left for the counting of votes for the assembly election in seven LACs in Dibrugarh district, the district administration has already chalked out a very smooth plan to conduct the entire process in a peaceful and safe manner.
Addressing the press conference held on Tuesday, the Deputy Commissioner MS Mannivan stated that the counting process would be held at the Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School on May 19 from 7.45 am at 14 tables. “Dibrugarh LAC will require 12 rounds of counting while13 rounds of counting will be required for Moran, Lahowal , Tingkhong and harkotiya LACs respectively and the highest rounds 14 will be required for both Chabua and Duliajan constituencies in the district,” Manivann stated.
Elaborating on the preparation, Deputy Commissioner Mannivan told media persons that each constituency of the district, as per Election Commission of India, will have central observers who will be assisted by number counting supervisors, assistants and micro observers.
“The entire counting process will be video graphed by two video cameras being installed in each room of the counting hall,” Manivann stated.
The Deputy Commissioner further stated the postal ballots which were received by the authority till the filing of this report was 1,748, highest ever than any past election, would be counted before sealed EVMs were opened for starting of counting process. “All including the contesting candidates are barred from carrying mobile phones inside the counting hall except the media persons who are allowed to carry their individual mobiles to the media rooms only,” Manivann stated.
Answering a query from electronic media personnel, the DC said the electronic media groups could park their own Digital Satellite News Gathering Van (DSNGV) hundred metres away from the counting hall. The vehicular traffic movement in the PWD road, stretching between Chowkidinghi Chariali to intersection of City College will be restricted during the counting period. All vehicles including the candidates of various political parties are to be parked in the Chowkidinghi playground.
Mannivann sought cooperation from all sections of people to maintain peace and harmony in the entire district on the counting day. Political parties are not allowed to bring out any victory procession without taking the prior permission from the district administration, the DC added.
The press conference was also attended by the Superintendent of Police, Bir Vikram Gogoi, Election Officer, Biswajit Phukan , EAC, Mirja Ahmed and Additiol SP, Surjit Singh Pansewar.
The Superintendent of Police, Bir Vikram Gogoi also gave a detailed account on the steps and measures to be taken by the police administration on May 19 for safe and peaceful conduct of the counting.
Meanwhile, police have already identified some strategic points, the SP said. Special measures would be taken in those areas for avoiding any untoward incidents. He further said adequate police deployment would be done in each and every strategic point during the counting period.
