All arrangements for counting of votes on march 10 completed: DEO-cum-DC Varinder Kumar Sharma

Ludhiana, March 2, 2022: District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma today assured that all arrangements for free, fair and transparent counting of votes on March 10, 2022, have been completed at all 14 counting centres in district Ludhiana. He said that the counting would start at 8 am at all 14 counting centres.

It is pertinent to mention that for Dakha constituency, the Strong room have been set up at Dr Sukhdev Singh Bhawan PAU, for Ludhiana North at Govt Senior Secondary Smart School PAU, for Ludhiana West at Gymnasium Hall, Punjab Agricultural University, for Jagraon at Examination Hall, Punjab Agricultural University, for Samrala at Satish Chander Dhawan Govt. College, for Ludhiana East at Satish Chander Dhawan Govt. College, for Sahnewal at Khalsa Girls Sen.Sec.School, College Road, Ludhiana, for Raikot at Malwa Central College Of Education For Women, for Ludhiana Central at Arya College, Auditorium Hall, for Ludhiana South at KVM Senior Secondary School, for Gill at S.R.S. Govt.Polytechnic College For Women, Rishi Nagar, for Payal at Govt. College for Women, Ludhiana, for Khanna at Guru Nanak Dev Polytechnic College, Ludhiana. (Applied Science Building) and for Atam Nagar constituency, the strong room has been set up at New Building of GNE Polytechnic College, Gill Road Ludhiana.

He said that to ensure tight security of the polled Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in all 14 assembly segments of Ludhiana district, thousands of security personnel from Central Para Military Force (CAPF), Punjab Armed Police and state Police have been deployed by the district administration for the security cover.

He said that inner perimeter of the strong rooms is being guarded by the Central Para Military Force, second perimeter by the Punjab Armed Police and outer security cover to strong rooms in each assembly segment is being provided by Punjab Police.

He urged all political parties/candidates to ensure that their counting agents get their identity cards made through their concerned Returning Officer (RO). He said that the counting agents should reach the counting centre atleast 1 hour before the start of counting. He informed that in the counting room, a total of 14 counting tables (7 on each side) would be set up for smooth counting.

He said that fool proof security arrangements have been made by the district administration at these centres to ensure the counting for the elections would be held in a smooth and hassle free manner.

He added said that CCTV cameras have been installed for e-surveillance of these strong rooms round the clock. He told that all contesting candidates can depute their representatives to keep a close watch on the arrangements for the security of the strong rooms. 

On this occasion, he also interacted with representatives of various political parties outside the strong rooms, who expressed satisfaction over the arrangements.