Udupi all set for counting on May 23

The district administration is all set to take up the counting of votes of Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency on May 23.

Deputy Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati told mediapersons in DC office on Saturday that the counting would be held at the counting centre in St Cecily School in the city.

The preparation, including the security arrangements, were in full swing. As many as 14 rooms had been identified for counting of the votes polled in eight Assembly constituencies.

She said the counting of votes for the six Assembly segments, excluding Kundapur and Karkala, will be held in two rooms each. While one room each was allotted for the counting of votes polled in Kundapur and Karkala Assembly constituencies.

For each counting hall, an assistant returning officer has been appointed who in turn will be assisted by eight polling officers.

That apart six assistant polling officers have been kept in reserve in case of any emergency, she added.

Korlpati said extra five tables had been identified for the counting of postal votes. One assistant polling officer will be in charge of each table.

Highlighting the number of staff involved in the counting of votes, deputy commissioner said 127 poll counting supervisors, 131 counting assistants, 127 micro observers and 127 ‘D’ Group employees for 21 tabulations had been appointed.

The first round of training for the staff was carried out on May 17 and the final phase of training was planned on May 19.

She added that there would be around 16 rounds of counting for 222 polling booths in Kundapur Assembly constituency, 17 rounds for 226 polling booths in Udupi, 15 rounds of counting for 208 polling booths in Kaup, 15 rounds for 209 polling stations in Karkala, 19 rounds for 256 polling booths in Sringeri, 17 rounds for 231 polling booths in Mudigere, 19 rounds for 257 polling booths in Chikkamagalur and 17 rounds for 228 polling stations in Tarikere.

All required basic infrastructural facilities like green room for women, drinking water facilities and control room had been set up. MESCOM had been asked to ensure uninterrupted supply of power to the counting centre on the day of counting of votes.

CCTV cameras have been placed in the counting rooms. She added that 130 CCTV cameras had been installed at the centre.

Korlapati said that Section 144 had been clamped from May 23 (6 am) to May 25 (6 am).

No victory celebrations

The bursting of crackers was banned from May 22 (from 10 am) to May 24 (5 pm). The victory celebrations are not permitted, Hephsiba Rani Korlapati said and added that selling of alcohol was banned from May 22 (6 pm) till May 24 (6 am).