By-Election: General Observer Pabitra Mandal Takes Stock of Preparations

A Correspondent

Tezpur: General Observer Pabitra Mandal on Thursday visited the strong room and counting hall set up at DRDA office campus and reviewed the arrangements and facilities available in the presence of Returning Officer and CEO, Zilla Parishad, Diganta Baishya and Election Officer Subram Aditya Bora.

He also visited the training programme for presiding officers held at the District Library auditorium where around 250 presiding officers were given hands-on training on how to operate EVMs and VVPATs and on the election process as a whole.

The General Observer later interacted and held a detailed discussion with District Informatics Officer Anup Baruah, Additional DIO, Jayanta Kumar Nath and other officials of the NIC and reviewed the progress of the use of the portals Suvidha, Sugam and Samadhan, in the presence of Returning Officer, and ADC Parag Kakaty.

Later in the day, General Observer Pabitra Mandal also attended the second randomization of all EVMs and VVPATs which was carried out in the conference all of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in the presence of representatives of political parties and other district administration officials.

A total of 197 EVM/VVPATs will be required for the upcoming polls. An additional 98 Ballot Units and Control Units (50 per cent) and another 98 VVPAT machines (50 per cent) have been kept in reserve.