Observers to keep closer tabs on counting process

MALDA, May 14: Following the new counting process formulated by the Election Commission, the round wise announcement of results for Lok Sabha polls will be delayed sometimes, the Malda district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh said today.

The district election officials under the leadership of the returning officer (RO) will announce round wise results of polls, after receiving consent from the Central observer. According to the district magistrate Mr Sridhar Ghosh, lots of additional counting observers have been appointed who will keep records of counting separately in each table, where the district election officials will count polled votes recorded in EVMs. There will be more than 14 counting tables for each Assembly segment. Each table will count one EVM. First round results will be finalized after adding all first round results of seven Assembly constituencies for one parliamentary seat. The micro-observers will liase between the additional counting observers and Central observers.

The Central observers will recount any two EVMs out of 14 to verify the results counted by the election officials under the leadership of the RO. After ascertaining the correctness of the counting by the general election officials, the Central observers will give the nod to the RO for the announcement of results. The observers will re-examine the counting process in each round and will give the nod to the RO for the declarations of round wise results. The district magistrate Mr Ghosh said that preparations have been completed with full security arrangements. The counting for North and South Malda seats will be held at Malda Polytechnic and Malda College respectively.