Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 01 Jun 2024
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mr. B.S Jaglan, IAS, convened a crucial meeting on May 31, 2024, to meticulously assess the counting arrangements for the upcoming General Election to Lok Sabha – 2024. The meeting, held at Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya in Port Blair, was organised in compliance with the directives of the Election Commission of India.
The CEO presided over the meeting alongside the Returning Officer for Andaman & Nicobar Islands Parliamentary Constituency (ANIPC), the State Police Nodal Officer for A&N Islands, and the Superintendent of Police (South Andaman). Emphasizing the paramount importance of ensuring a seamless and transparent counting process, the CEO directed the concerned officers to ensure the availability of essential facilities and infrastructure.
Key directives issued by the CEO included:
– Provision of adequate facilities such as storage space, water, toilets, and first aid facilities.
– Ensuring regular electricity supply and availability of adequate fire tenders.
– Implementation of three-layered security arrangements and sealing of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) & Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) devices.
– Setup of communication infrastructure including CCTV cameras, public address systems, and media center.
– Preparation of necessary documentation including Form-20, 21-C & 21-E.
– Arrangements for the welfare of duty & counting staff and security personnel.
Moreover, the CEO stressed the importance of having a public address system at the counting center for disseminating round-wise information. Additionally, provisions were made for a Media Centre and Communication Centre, ensuring seamless data transfer.
Speaking at the meeting, Returning Officer Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, and Ms. Monika Bhardwaj, IPS, assured that all necessary infrastructural and security arrangements, in line with the Commission’s instructions, have been put in place for the smooth conduct of counting at the Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya, Port Blair.
The meeting saw the participation of key officials including Returning Officer Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, State Police Nodal Officer Ms. Monika Bhardwaj, IPS, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Vinayak Chamadia, IAS, ASP-South Andaman District Mr. Vikas Swami, IPS, and technical experts.
With meticulous planning and coordination, the electoral authorities are geared up to ensure a fair and transparent counting process for the Lok Sabha Elections in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.