The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Watchtowers erected to maintain vigil at counting centres

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Watchtowers erected to maintain vigil at counting centres

Special Correspondent

Internet facilities provided to keep poll panel posted of counting progress

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

KEEPING VIGIL: A watchtower erected at Periyar Government Arts College in Cuddalore, which is one of the counting centres. — Photo: T. Singaravelou

VILLUPURAM: Besides the tight security arrangements, the counting centres in Villupuram and Cuddalore districts would be provided with Internet facilities to post the Election Commission with the progress of counting on May 11.

After each round of counting, the table-wise tally would be communicated to the EC through the Internet, for which special software called "I-genesis" has been installed.

Once the counting of votes in each Assembly constituency is completed, the Election Commission would direct the respective Returning Officer to declare the results.

These results would be announced over the public address system for the benefit of the general public who would gather in front of the counting centres. All the Electronic Voting Machines have been brought and kept in the sealed rooms and guarded by the armed Central Para Military Forces.

Villupuram District Collector Ka. Balachandran told The Hindu that the votes polled in 12 Assembly constituencies in the district would be counted in eight centres.

They are as follows: Melmalaiyanur and Ginjee - Regulated Market Committee at Ginjee, phone numbers 04145— 224882-84; Tindivanam - St.Joseph's ITI, 04147-228570, 228577; Vanur - Sri Aravindar Arts and Science College, Akasampattu, 0413-2678026,2678027.

Kandamangalam and Villupuram - Sri Ramakrishna Mission Higher Secondary School at Villupuram, 225760, 225884, 225857, 225761; Mugaiyur - Office of the Joint Director of Agriculture at Villupuram, 225768, 225912; Thirunavalur and Ulundurpet - Annai Teresa College of Engineering, 224128 to 224131; Chinna Salem - R.K. Shanmugham Arts and Science College at Kallakurichi, 200227, 220174; and, Rishivandhiyam and Sankarapuram - Regulated Market Committee at Kallakurichi, 224135,224791, 224615,224655.

Cuddalore District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi said the votes polled in nine Assembly constituencies would be counted at three centres as follows: Cuddalore, Nellikuppam and Kurinjipadi - Government Periyar Arts College at Thevanampattinam; Bhuvanagiri, Chidambaram and Kattumannarkoil - Government Arts College at C. Mutlur; and, Vriddhachalam and Mangalore - Kolanjiappar Government Arts College at Vriddhachalam.

Watchtowers

Mr. Bedi said watchtowers had been erected at these centers to enable the security personnel to have a close vigil on the crowd that would gather there. The postal ballots would be taken up for counting first, and after its completion the regular counting process would start.

Neither cell phones nor any sharp objects would be allowed inside the counting centres, Mr Bedi added.

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