Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)
Kasargod, May 12: There are only six days left for counting of votes of the Lok Sabha elections. Preparations in Kasargod are on for counting of votes on Friday May 16.
The votes will be counted in the designated room of the government college. 98 tables are kept for counting of votes. The voting machines
are kept in the strong room of the Kasargod Government College.
Fourteen tables each will be used for counting of votes from Kasargod, Uduma, Trikaripura, Payyanur, Tellichery and twelve tables each will
be used for counting from Manjeshwar and Kananghad. Besides that, four tables are kept for counting of votes received by the postal ballot.
The counting will be supervised by the respective assistant election officials and the district commissioner who is also the district election commissioner.
Officils say that the counting will begin at 7.30 am and is likely to get over by afternoon. An agent of the candidate will be allowed near the tables. The candidates who enters the counting station in the morning will be allowed to leave the premises only after the counting. Use of mobile phones is banned in the center.
A list of agents of the candidates with their pictures should reach the district commissioner by Monday May 12. Their identity cards will be given by the evening of Thursday May 15. The officials have said that the agents should reach the counting center along with a letter from the candidates and the identity card before 7 am on the counting day.
Several restrictions are imposed on celebrations after the declaration of candidates as winners. The decisions were taken at an all party meeting held at the office of the commissioner P M Mohammed Sageer. The commissioner presided over the meeting.
The meeting has also warned not to celebrate the win with too much of excitement. The head of police Thomson Jose has said that prior permission should be obtained before the celebrations.
Gatherings are not allowed in the vicinity of the government college. The counting will be done before 3 pm. Celebrations after 6.30 pm are banned.
Shouting slogans is not allowed. The rallies will be filmed, bike rallies and rallies in open lorries are also banned. The vehicle permits and driving licence of drivers who break the rules will be seized. Non-bailable police cases will be registered against those who break the law. Imposition of section 144 in sensitive areas will be discussed during the meeting. Rallies and processions will be banned in these areas.
The meeting was attended by MLAs E Chandrashekaran, P B Abdul Razak, deputy commissioner Jeevan Babu and other political leaders.