Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 02 June 2024
A comprehensive dry run was conducted at the Counting Centre, Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM), to review the arrangements made for the smooth counting of votes polled in the Lok Sabha General Election 2024. The exercise was led by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. B. S. Jaglan, IAS, accompanied by the Returning Officer (RO) of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Parliamentary Constituency (ANIPC), Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, along with other key election officials.
During the visit, the team meticulously reviewed the preparations in accordance with the directives of the Election Commission of India. The vote counting is scheduled to begin at the JNRM Counting Centre at 8 AM on June 4, 2024.
The CEO and the team inspected Counting Halls 1 and 2, where the RO detailed the arrangements, including seating for candidates and their agents, data compilation counters, and other essential facilities. These provisions encompass a public address system for announcing round-wise results, robust IT infrastructure for the seamless transfer of data to the Election Commission of India, and various measures for the welfare of duty and counting staff as well as security personnel. The team also ensured that there will be an uninterrupted power supply throughout the JNRM complex, comprehensive communication facilities, CCTV surveillance, security measures, and first aid facilities, all aligned with the Standard Operating Procedures of the Election Commission.
Additionally, Mr. Jaglan visited the Media Centre to evaluate the arrangements made for media personnel, ensuring that they have the necessary facilities for the accurate and timely dissemination of results after each counting round.
At the conclusion of the inspection, the CEO expressed satisfaction with the infrastructural and security arrangements established by the Returning Officer and his team. He commended their efforts to adhere to the Election Commission’s instructions, ensuring a smooth and efficient vote counting process at the JNRM Counting Centre in Port Blair.