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Stage is set for counting of votes for assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana with adequate security arrangements in place.
Counting of votes for assembly elections in Haryana will begin at 8 am. Postal ballots will be counted first, followed by EVM counting after 30 minutes. Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal stated that 93 counting centres have been set up for 90 assembly constituencies in 22 districts of the state. Two counting centres each have been set up for the Badshahpur, Gurugram, and Pataudi assembly constituencies, while one counting centre each has been established for the remaining 87 assembly constituencies, where the counting will take place. To monitor the counting process, 90 counting observers also have been appointed by Election Commission. Agarwal informed that the comprehensive security arrangements have been made for the counting. A total of 30 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed at 93 counting centres. The counting centres have been put under a three-tier security cover. Central security forces have been deployed in the innermost security cover. After that, state armed police and district police personnel will be deployed in the outermost cover. Around 12,000 police personnel are on duty at the counting centres across the state. Agarwal stated that adequate checkpoints have been set up within a 100-meter perimeter of each counting centre. CCTV cameras have been installed in all 90 strong rooms where the EVM are stored to closely monitor all activities. Unauthorized individuals will be restricted from entering these areas. Additionally, CCTV cameras have been installed at the main entrance and throughout the entire premises of the counting centres to ensure comprehensive monitoring. A meeting was held to review the counting preparedness with Deputy Commissioners/District Election Officers, to provide instructions for ensuring a well-organized counting process on October 8. Accurate information on each round of counting will be uploaded in a timely manner, a release said. On the day of the counting, the strong rooms will be opened in the presence of candidates, their authorized representatives, Returning Officers (ROs)/Assistant Returning Officers (AROs), and ECI observers, with videography conducted. Mobile phones will not be allowed inside the counting centres. During the process, only authorized individuals, officials, or staff will be permitted inside and around the counting centres. People and political party representatives have been requested not to crowd the counting centres and check the results at home. The results will be available on the Election Commission of India's website http://results.eic.in/ and through the Voter Helpline App. Media centres have been set up at the counting centres for the press to access the latest updates. Only authorized personnel would be allowed entry into the counting centres. Additionally, instructions have been given to closely monitor social media to prevent the spread of any rumors related to the counting process, the release said. In Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole said CCTVs have been set up in each counting hall for record creation. "Counting will begin at 7:30 am for postal ballots and 8 am for EVMs... Polls were held peacefully and no candidate or political party faced any kind of difficulty. Violence-free public participation was witnessed," Pole told ANI. "Postal ballots will be counted first, after which EVM counting will begin. In every district headquarters, counting centres have been set up... Counting of territorial polling stations will be done in 25 locations and counting of migrant polling stations will be done in 3 locations... All arrangements have been made. Candidates have also given information about their counting agents... EVMs are kept in a triple layer security. The outermost layer consists of police, the middle layer is guarded by the CAPF, and the inner layer consists of a dedicated section which mans the counting centre round the clock," he added. Udhampur District Election Officer Saloni Rai said that two counting centres have been set up for all four assembly constituencies of Udhampur. "All security arrangements for counting centres are in place and guidelines have been issued to security personnel, candidates, and counting staff. All things are streamlined... Mobile phones and electronic gadgets are not allowed inside the counting centre and the rule applies to candidates as well as the counting staff. 100 mtrs from the counting centre is a no-vehicle zone," Saloni Rai said. Exit polls have predicted that Congress is poised to win Haryana and that that National Conference-Congress alliance has an edge in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)
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