Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 22 April 2024
In the aftermath of the polling conducted for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on April 19, a significant step towards the electoral process was witnessed as the Polled Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines from Diglipur and Mayabunder Tehsils arrived at Port Blair on April 21, 2024. These crucial components have been securely stored in the Strong Room at Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM) under stringent security measures.
Under the vigilant supervision of Mr. B.S. Jaglan, IAS, Chief Electoral Officer of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Parliamentary Constituency (ANIPC), and Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, Returning Officer, along with election observers and other officials, the process of receiving the polled materials has been meticulously executed. In adherence to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) guidelines, political parties, contesting candidates, and their representatives have been duly informed during the storage of the Polled EVMs and VVPAT machines.
Elaborate security arrangements have been deployed at JNRM to ensure the safety of the polled materials. The Strong Room is under constant surveillance by personnel from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police as well as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), providing round-the-clock protection.
In parallel, preparations are underway for the arrival of the Polled EVMs and VVPAT machine from Campbell Bay, expected to reach Port Blair on April 22, 2024.
The meticulous handling and storage of the Polled EVMs and VVPAT machines mark a crucial phase in the electoral process, ensuring transparency, security, and the integrity of the democratic exercise in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.