E-Paper
UP assembly polls: Stage set for counting of votes at 84 centres across state under tight security today
The UP assembly polls for 403 seats spread over 75 districts were held in seven phases between February 10 and March 7
The counting of votes for the UP assembly polls will begin under tight security at all the counting centres at 8am on Thursday, chief electoral officer (UP) Ajay Kumar Shukla said here on Wednesday.
He said 84 counting centers had been set up in the state.
“There will be uninterrupted videography right from opening of strong rooms and taking EVMs to counting tables to the counting of votes,” Shukla said.
Victory processions and rallies have been prohibited.
The UP assembly polls for 403 seats spread over 75 districts were held in seven phases between February 10 and March 7.
“We have made all the preparations for the counting on Thursday in keeping with the election commission’s directives,” he said.
“Counting of (postal) ballots will begin first. Then, counting of EVM votes will start at 8.30am,” he added.
More than 3.75 lakh voters belonging to the defined categories exercised their franchise using ballot papers.
“Agra will have five centres. Amethi, Ambedkarnagar, Deoria, Meerut and Azamgarh will have 2 centres each and the rest of the districts one centre each,” he said.
He also said 403 observers, one for each constituency, have been deployed.
According to Shukla, three-tier security has been put in place at the counting centres and within a three-km radius from them. He said no unauthorised person would be allowed inside the counting centres and people, other than ones belonging to the exempted class, would not be allowed to carry cell phone, laptop, calculator or any other electronic device.
Smoking would remain completely banned on the premises of the counting centres.
