Port Blair, June 3: All arrangements for the smooth & transparent Counting of votes is complete and the counting of votes for the polling held in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Parliamentary Constituency will start at JNRM Counting Centre tomorrow (June 4) from 8 am onwards under the supervision of General Observer appointed by the ECI, Shri Brajesh Narain Singh, IAS, the CEO, A&N Islands, Shri B.S Jaglan, IAS and Returning Officer, ANIPC, Shri Arjun Sharma, IAS.

Meanwhile, the Counting Centre, JNRM has become the centre of intense activities as the senior officials associated with counting are busy ensuring all the facilities are in place for the smooth conduct of counting. 

According to the RO, ANIPC, the Counting will be taken up as per the laid down guidelines of the ECI and the ‘Postal Ballot Papers’ and Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETBPS) will be counted first and thereafter, the counting of EVMs (Control Unit) will start at 8.30 am. Counting of votes will be done in two counting halls i.e., Hall No. 1 & 2.  

Altogether, 28 counting tables have been set up and each counting hall will have 14 tables. These tables will be manned by Counting Supervisor, Micro Observer, Counting Assistant and Counting Staff and Counting will be completed in 15 rounds. As per the instructions of the ECI, a separate designated Counting booth for VVPAT machines have been established inside the Counting Hall No.1 wherein 5 VVPATs will be randomly selected through draw of lots for Counting. 

The Strong Room will be opened in the presence of General Observer, Returning Officer and the Candidates. Proper seating arrangements for Candidates/Agents have been made available inside the Counting Hall.  No mobile phones/calculators will be allowed inside the Counting Hall.  Adequate measures have been put in place for the dissemination of results on completion of every round of Counting. Apart from social media platforms, the results will be announced through public address system at designated places and it will be screened on LED monitors installed at Netaji Stadium.

A Media Centre has also been established at JNRM to facilitate the media persons for proper dissemination of results after completion of each round during the counting of votes. 

Elaborate security has been put in place with a 3 layered security cover inside the entire JNRM Complex for the smooth conduct of counting as well as maintaining of law & order. 

The RO, ANIPC has sought the co-operation from all for the smooth conduct of counting of votes and to maintain the decorum inside Counting Hall at JNRM.