Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld media network-Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Feb 22: All preparations are in place for the counting of zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat elections which will be held at Mahatma Gandhi Centenary Memorial School, Bondel here on Tuesday February 23.

The city police have stationed themselves along with a platoon of KSRP in the premises of counting venue. Police personnel are also guarding the sealed strong room where the electronic voting machines have been kept.

Police commissioner of Mangaluru Chandra Sekar inspected the security of the counting venue. A few of the senior police officials have also visited the premises and inspected the preparations.

The votes will be counted constituency wise on Tuesday, February 23. The counting process will begin at 8 am in the following counting centres - Mahatma Gandhi Centenary School, Bondel, Mangaluru, Infant Jesus English and Kannada Medium School, Modankapu, Bantwal, SDM PU College, Ujire, Belthangady, Vivekananda English Medium School, Tenkila, Puttur and Nehru Memorial College, Sullia.

The counting of zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat will be done simultaneously in the above centres and the results are expected to be announced by 1 pm on the same day.

At 7:30 am, the strong room will be opened and the counting will begin at 8 am. Initially, the postal votes will be counted which will be followed by the counting of the electronic votes.

February 23 will be observed as dry day as per the direction of election commission for peaceful counting process. Victory processions on the particular day have also been prohibited. Section-144 will be imposed around the counting centres and in sensitive areas during the hours of counting.

The elections for the 36 zilla panchayat seats and 136 taluk panchayat seats of the Dakshina Kannada district were held on Saturday, February 20. Dakshina Kannada registered a turnout of 69.16 percent.