E-Paper
Vote counting at snail?s pace
Mismanagement and snail's pace marred the counting of votes for the civic body polls on the Mundera Mandi premises here on Monday. Dullness overtook the staff soon after the counting began in the morning around eight with the result that by three in the afternoon the complete results of the first phase of counting had not been received. This prompted the DM Amrit Abhijat to beckon the staff to speed up the counting process.
Mismanagement and snail's pace marred the counting of votes for the civic body polls on the Mundera Mandi premises here on Monday.
Dullness overtook the staff soon after the counting began in the morning around eight with the result that by three in the afternoon the complete results of the first phase of counting had not been received.
This prompted the DM Amrit Abhijat to beckon the staff to speed up the counting process. He appeared peeved as the staff had not finished with the lunch which had extended to over an hour and a half. 'Khana Khane Aye Hain Ki Vote Ginene', was his remark after seeing the inordinate delay in counting.
Seeing the grim situation Kumar Narain, BSP supported candidate for the post of Mayor, in a lighter vein remarked: 'Kya ham log ghar jayen, phir baad mein ayen'.
Adding in the same vein the DM replied, 'aap logon ki jagah sirf aap logon ki patniyon ko hi aane denge'. However, the DM hastened to add 'in that case we will have to summon cops from the fair sex'.
Senior Congress leader Abhay Awasthi appeared upset over the discontinuance of the traditional practice in which counting agents of all the national parties used to sit at the central table. No such arrangement has been made this time.
On their part cops appeared to be another mismanaged lot. They were seen huddled together in groups instead of being alert at the place of their duty. This resulted in a number of people without valid passes entering the Mandi premises.
Even a number of unathorised vehicles had managed to sneak in. A senior district officer admitted an air of no-confidence pervaded the scene. Every body appeared apprehensive with the administration, police and those involved in the counting. That is why he was not interested in going to the counting venue, he added. He said, he was on duty with another senior police officer in the outer ring and he was sticking to his place.
The counting was scheduled to be completed in five rounds. The first round had taken around seven hours. In case the same speed is maintained the DM will be in a position to declare the final results after 5 pm on Tuesday. On his part the DM admitted the delay but added that the counting could last till noon on Tuesday.
Pressure on Administration?
DM Amrit Abhijat, SSP Vijay Singh Meena, SP MP Akhilesh Singh (CM's son) and Phulpur MP Ateeq Ahmad were closetted in the Mundera Mandi premises for several hours. If sources are to be believed there was pressure on the officials to favour the Samajwadi Party candidate for the post of Mayor. How these officers reacted could not be known but a senior Congress leader Abhai Awasthi said they got in touch with Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal and apprised him of the visit of Akhilesh and Ateeq at Mandi Samiti. Sources said, somebody from the Central Government told these officers not to act under any pressure and be fair.
