The general observers for counting of votes in the 16 Assembly constituencies in Chennai will arrive in the city on Tuesday. By then, all counting halls will be readied and the returning officers will file a status report to the Chief Electoral Officer.
Senior officials of the District Election Office made an inspection of the counting centres on Friday. Measures to ensure that the counting of votes is smooth are being taken, a senior official said.
Every Assembly constituency would have a general observer during the counting of votes on May 13. The names of the observers appointed by the Election Commission are as follows: Rajat Agarwal (Dr.Radhakrishnan Nagar); S.Anil Kumar (Perambur); S.M.Khanapure (Kolathur); Sanjay Gupta (Villivakkam); Venkataram Reddy (Thiru Vi Ka Nagar); S.Nasser Khan (Egmore); Prithvi Raj Bishnoi (Royapuram); S.K.Mishra (Harbour); Madhu Khare (Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni); Shashi Karnawat (Thousand Lights); Vikas Yadav (Anna Nagar); Ganesh Prasad Kabir Tanthi (Virugampakkam); Subir Kumar (Saidapet), Gyaneshwar B.Patil (Thiyagaraya Nagar); U.Aparna (Mylapore); and Shangara Ram (Velachery).
All observers would keep a close watch on the process of counting of votes and compilation of results. Election official, including the observer, ARO and RO would not leave the counting hall till the counting is completed and result declared. Before the Returning Officer declares result of the election, the observer concerned would issue authorisation for declaration of the results.