ERODE: A special election observer was posted for Gobichettipalayam Assembly Constituency on Saturday, said the Collector, D. Karthikeyan.

60 constituencies

Mr Karthikeyan told presspersons that the additional observer, Anand Singh, would hold discussions and co-ordinate with the election observer for Gobichettipalayam, Sarkunde. Election Commission (EC) has deputed special observers for about 60 constituencies in the State. The special observer was appointed directly by the EC, with no recommendation from the district administration. The EC had appointed Bhattacharya as regional observer for Erode and Coimbatore districts. Mr. Bhattachariya visited Erode on Saturday and held a review meeting with the officials on election arrangements. The election observers and expenditure observers went around the areas assigned to them and sent detailed reports to the EC, Mr. Karthikeyan said.

`Strong rooms'

Names of candidates in all 10 constituencies in the district were set in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the presence of the election observers and representatives of the candidates. The machines were sent to respective constituencies and placed in `strong rooms'. They would be dispatched to polling booths on May 7. The polling personnel would also reach the booths by noon the same day, the Collector said.

Orders for duty

Of the 9,073 polling personnel, identification cards and orders for election duty were given to 9,050, and the remaining would receive it before May 7. As many as 804 reserve polling personnel were spread over the headquarters of the 10 constituencies. Candidates were urged not to bring cellular phones inside the polling booth.

Counting

The Collector visited Institute of Road and Transport Technology Engineering College in Chitode on Saturday where ballot papers for Erode, Modakurichi, Vellakoil, Kangeyam, Perundurai, Bhavani and Anthiyur constituencies would be counted on May 11. He also inspected the strong rooms where EVMs would be kept on May 8 after the elections. Police pickets were posted in counting centres on Saturday. Votes for Gobichettipalayam, Bhavanisagar and Sathyamangalam would be counted on May 11 at Gobi Arts and Science College in Gobichettipalayam.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail