The Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar on Wednesday said that the Election Commission was bent on ensuring accuracy and the satisfaction of the stake holders before announcing the poll results.
Noting that extra time would be taken to announce the results this time, Mr. Praveen Kumar said this was due to increase in polling stations, more contesting candidates and extra rounds.
Making a comparison between 2009 and 2014 Parliamentary elections, Mr. Kumar said the number of polling stations in Tamil Nadu had increased from 52,000 to 60,000.
We are not in a race to announce the results as accuracy and satisfaction of the stake holders are important to the Election Commission, Mr. Kumar told reporters in Tiruchi. He was in the city to conduct a regional level training class for Returning Officers, District Election Officers, Assistant Returning Officers and nodal officers of eight districts in respect of counting of votes.
The second round would begin only after the completion of the first round and result displayed on the board and copies handed out to the agents, he said.
Mr. Kumar said the police had been asked to bring maximum poll-related cases to the court before May 16 when counting of votes is slated.
Over 3,600 election cases had been registered across the State in the run up to the Parliamentary polls, of which 1,500 cases were in various courts.
Conviction had been given in 200 cases, he said adding that the Election Commission was obtaining a daily report on the progress of these cases.
Replying to a query, Mr. Kumar said maximum efforts had been taken by the Election Commission to check distribution of cash in the run up to the elections.
Imposition of Section 144 in Tamil Nadu on the eve of polling had also helped to a large extent in checking it.
However, he said the officials had seized Rs. 55 lakhs from April 22 night to April 23rd night across the State notwithstanding the imposition of Section 144.
The Election Commission had put in place a set of regulations for the counting centres where multiple-layers of security would be in vogue.
The central para-military force personnel would be deployed at the counting hall, he added.
Returning Officers, District Election Officers and Assistant Returning Officers of Tiruchi, Perambalur, Dindigul, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Tiruvarur and Ariyalur districts attended the programme.
