Mobiles, poll agents not allowed in counting rooms

Leaving no room for arguments that EVMs could be hacked through Bluetooth devices, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has prohibited mobile phones inside the counting rooms along with polling agents of candidates on May 23.

To brief the media on the arrangements made, a joint press conference was held by BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad and Commissioner of Police T Suneel Kumar.

Manjunath Prasad said the use of mobile phones are prohibited inside the counting rooms and media representatives are allowed only till the designated media rooms at the counting stations. “Each polling agent will be provided seating arrangement in a designated place. A polling agent seen moving from place to place will be sent out of the counting station,” Prasad added.

Going by the apex court’s order, the BBMP will implement five-time counting of VVPAT slips in polling stations of the city.

“There are three counting stations -- St Joseph’s Indian High School near Vittal Mallya Road (North), Mount Carmel Women’s PU College, Vasanthnagar (Central) and SSMRV PU College, Jayanagar (South). Counting will begin at 8.30 am and will conclude by 12.30 pm. Officials deployed for counting are prohibited from using electronic gadgets,” the BBMP Commissioner further added.

Elaborating on the security arrangements for the counting day, City Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar said: “Prohibitory orders and liquor ban will be enforced in the city from 6 am on May 23 to May 24 ensuring smooth counting of votes. Celebration and bursting of crackers are prohibited from 100 metres of the counting stations. Two paramilitary companies and 23 KSRP companies will be deployed,” he said.