Collector asks ROs to take responsibility for counting

Visakhapatnam: Collector and Election Returning Officer K Bhaskar expressed anger on the Araku Parliamentary Constituency officials, who failed to send the postal ballot details filed at the facilitation centre arranged in Araku. The Collector directed the official to prepare the proposals to suspend the responsible officials. The proposals would be sent to the Chief Election Officer, Amaravati to take action on the officials.

The Collector conducted a review meeting on the counting arrangements to be held on May 23, on Friday. Speaking with the officials, the Collector said that all the Returning Officers of the respective constituencies should take responsibilities for counting arrangements. He directed the officials to inform the contesting candidates to send names for counting agents immediately.

The collector informed the Returning Officers to make arrangements for shifting of EVMs from the strongrooms and after counting procedures in separate routes. He also directed the officials to make barricade arrangements while bringing the EVMs to the counting centres.

No mobile phones would be allowed into the counting centres and the officials should make arrangements for setting up landline phones, fax and internet facilities in the counting centres. At each assembly constituency one Returning Officer table and 14 counting tables would be arranged and four tables for each Lok Sabha segment.

The administration would select contractors to supply breakfast and lunch to the staff and others during the counting. However, the Returning Officer of the respective segment should ensure the supply of food and other facilities, the collector said.