Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

Counting on July 4

Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA: District Collector Navin Mittal on Friday ordered election officials to take all precautions for the smooth conduct of counting of votes scheduled to be taken up on July 4. He said notices should be sent to the contesting candidates notifying them the date and time of counting.

Addressing a review meeting with officials here, Mr. Mittal said the first phase of polling in the district passed off peacefully, thanks to the efforts of the polling staff concerned. Similar efforts should be made to make counting foolproof and successful, he added.

Curbs on entry

The process of counting was discussed at the meeting. First ballot papers belonging to MPTC and ZPTC elections should be separated. Only contesting candidates and counting agents should be allowed inside the counting centres.

MPs, MLAs and other people's representatives would not be allowed inside the counting centres in accordance with the direction of the State Election Commission (SEC).

Only returning officers and counting officers would be allowed to carry cell phones. Mediapersons would have to stay outside the counting halls and liaison officers would be feeding information to them.

Uninterrupted power

Joint Collector S. Suresh Kumar said that steps should be taken to ensure continuous power supply at all counting centres. The counting officials should be ready with generators to meet any eventuality. ZP CEO Bharath Reddy, Bandar RDO T. Appa Rao, Nuzvid RDO Venkat Rao and others were present.

72 per cent turnout

The re-polling conducted at seven polling stations in the district on Friday witnessed an average voter turnout of 72 per cent. There was no untoward incident. The percentage at polling station no. 27 in Bantumilli second segment was 61.8. TDP's candidate for ZP chairman post Kagita Venkata Rao is contesting from this seat. The polling percentages in other stations is: 66.9 at Nandigama booth16; 85.9 per cent at the three polling stations in Vatsavai mandal (one in Alurupadu and two in Vemavaram); 69.3 at 33rd polling station at Mylavaram second segment; and 75.55 at Sunkollu in Nuzvid mandal.

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