LOK SABHA ELECTIONS 2019: COUNTING OF VOTES ON MAY 23; ALL ARRANGEMENTS IN STATE COMPLETE: CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER

INSPECTS ARRANGEMENTS AT COUNTING CENTRES AT LUDHIANA COUNTING OF 13 PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES TO BE HELD AT 21 PLACES IN STATE 3.5 LAKH COUNTING STAFF DEPLOYED; STRICT SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS PUT IN PLACE Ludhiana, May 22, 2019: Chief Election Officer (CEO) Punjab Dr S Karuna Raju today stated that the counting for 13 Parliamentary constituencies would be done at 21 places in different parts of the state tomorrow, i.e. May 23, 2019. He said that all arrangements in this regard have been put in place. CEO Punjab Mr S Karuna Raju said this while speaking to media persons after inspecting the arrangements at counting centres set up in Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College and Punjab Agricultural University, here today. He informed that the counting of votes for 13 parliamentary seats of Punjab would start at 8 am tomorrow and a three tier security ring has been created around the counting centres. He said that there would be no public entry in the counting centres as only candidates, counting staff, polling agents, security personnel, election officers, observers, media persons, who have been issued entry passes. He stated that no person would be allowed to enter the counting centres without entry passes. Mr S Karuna Raju said that this time, the counting of slips (votes) of five random VVPAT machines each of every assembly constituency would be checked manually. He said that no vehicles and public would be allowed 100 metres within the counting centres, and prohibition orders of section 144 of CrPC have already been put in place in the state. He informed that around 3.5 lakh counting staff has been deputed in the state, besides adequate number of security personnel have been deputed to ensure everything goes on peacefully. District Election Officer-cum-Returning Officer Ludhiana Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal informed that the district administration has completed all arrangements for the counting. He informed that the counting of votes for Ludhiana East constituency would be held at the library hall of Government Senior Secondary Smart School, PAU, of Ludhiana South at 2nd floor, Examination Hall cum Lecture Theatre Complex, PAU, of Atam Nagar at Examination Hall, near Kisan Training Centre, PAU, of Ludhiana Central at Gymnasium Hall, Ground Floor, PAU, of Ludhiana West at Gymnasium Hall, Ground Floor, PAU, of Ludhiana North at Multipurpose Hall, Government Senior Secondary Smart School, PAU, of Gill at Ground floor, Examination Hall cum Theatre Complex, opposite Department of Vegetable Science & Fruit Science, PAU, of Dakha at Sukhdev Bhawan, Dining Hall, PAU, and of Jagraon constituency at Dr DS Dev Examination Hall, College of Agriculture, PAU. Similarly, the counting of votes for five Vidhan Sabha constituencies that are part of Fatehgarh Sahib Parliamentary constituency would be held at: of Khanna at 2nd floor, GNE Polytechnic College, of Samrala at New Sports Hall Complex, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, of Sahnewal at 2nd floor, Examination Hall, GNE Polytechnic College, Gill Road, of Payal at 2nd floor, Mechanical Hall, GNE Polytechnic College and of Raikot constituency at 1st floor of GNE Polytechnic College. Mr Agrawal informed that a total of 22 candidates were in fray for Ludhiana Parliamentary Constituency and their fate would be decided by 10,44,823 voters. He informed that 17 counting teams each have been deputed for each assembly constituency, whereas reserve teams have also been put on standby. He said that each team would have a micro observer, a counting supervisor, an assistant counting supervisor etc. Special teams have been deputed for counting of postal ballots. He informed that for the benefit of media persons, media centres have been set up at Dr Sukhdev Bhawan in PAU, while another at diploma workshop in Guru Nanak Dev Polytechnic College, Gill Road. Prominent among those present on the occasion included Commissioner of Police Ludhiana Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, SSP Ludhiana Rural Mr Varinder Singh Brar, SSP Khanna Mr GS Grewal, ADC (G) Mr Iqbal Singh Sandhu, ADC Jagraon Mrs Neeru Katyal Gupta, Assistant Returning Officers, besides several others.