The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and ballot units from polling stations in Salem constituency were sealed into strong rooms at the counting centre in Government Engineering College, Karappur, here on Friday.
Strong rooms were sealed in the presence of District Collector Rohini R.Bhajibhakare, general observer Rajesh Manjhu and representatives of contesting candidates. Including reserve, 2,228 control units, 4,242 ballot units and 2,390 VVPAT machines were used in 1,803 polling stations at 593 places in Salem constituency.
Ms. Bhajibhakare said that the elections were conducted in a free and transparent manner in the constituency and 77.33% polling was recorded in the district. Security measures according to the guidelines of Election Commission had been set up here. Besides security personnel, representatives of contesting candidates would also be here and televisions had been set up for agents to view CCTV camera recordings.
On security measures, Deputy Commissioner (Law and Order) P.Thangadurai said that close to 200 personnel would be deployed for security duty here. “Armed CISF personnel will be deployed outside strong rooms, Tamil Nadu Special police will be deployed in the second layer and armed police personnel in the next layer of security. Local police personnel have been deployed to guard the entire campus perimeter,” he said.
He added that personnel had been deployed in three shifts and one Assistant Commissioner and 12 Inspectors would be overseeing the security deployment.
In Namakkal, voting units were sealed into strong rooms at Vivekananda College of Engineering of Women in the presence of District Collector M.Asia Mariam, general observer Vani Mohan, Superintendent of Police for Namakkal Ara.Arularasu, and representatives of contesting candidates.
Ms. Asia Mariam said that four-tier security had been arranged at the strong rooms here. The elections were conducted in a transparent manner and 11,29,610 voters exercised their franchise in the district recording a voting percentage of 79.93. Including reserve, 3,854 ballot units, 2,022 control units and 2,124 VVPAT machines were used in 1,653 polling stations here.
Krishnagiri/Dharmapuri
The EVMs and VVPAT machines were sealed in strong rooms at Government Polytechnic College in Krishnagiri on Friday in the presence of Collector S.Prabhakar, general observer Ramrao Bhonsle and representatives of contesting candidates.
Mr. Prabhakar said that 75.58% of polling was recorded in the constituency. Three-tier security hasdbeen set up here and CCTV cameras had been installed for 24 hours monitoring. Necessary arrangements would be made for smooth conduct of counting.
In Krishnagiri, where by-polls to Harur, Pappiredipatti, and Lok Sabha elections for Dharmapuri were held, the EVMs and VVPAT machines were sealed at strong rooms at Government Engineering College in Chettikarai in Dharmapuri. Three-tier security arrangements had been made at the strong rooms here.
The strong rooms were sealed in the presence of District Collector S.Malarvizhi, and general observers of the Assembly by-elections and Lok Sabha elections.
