Ensure discipline at counting centres: Punjab CEO to officials

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Electoral Officer V K Singh today directed the District Electoral Officers to maintain strict discipline in and around all the 30 counting centres throughout the state during counting of votes for the 13 Lok Sabha seats tomorrow.

Reviewing the counting arrangements with DEOs through video conferencing, Singh said the Election Commission has appreciated the smooth conduct of polling in the state and he was quite confident of smooth counting and timely declaration of results.

He said that any unauthorised person should not be allowed near counting locations and each member of counting staff should be issued identity card and be asked to display that.

Total counting process should be videographed and a copy of recording should be made available to the contesting candidates on the payment basis, Singh said.

Similarly, the round-wise results should also be given to the counting agents, he added.

The CEO asked the field police officers to remain more alert after declaration of results to check any incident of confrontation between different political groups.

Arpit Shukla, IGP, Headquarters and Elections asked the field police officers to put checkposts besides intensifying police patrolling in the cities during counting process.

He said that all senior field police officers should themselves remain in field to keep a close watch on the law and order situation.