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Wait for LS poll results to stretch longer than usual

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, May 20 - The wait for the final verdict on the Lok Sabha elections is most likely to stretch longer than usual as results will be declared only after tallying of the voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips, after the EVM count is completed.

Informing mediapersons about the district administration�s preparedness for the counting day, � May 23 � Kamrup (Metro) Deputy Commissioner Biswajit Pegu today said that counting the VVPAT slips of five polling stations of each Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) would delay the final result, which might stretch up to the midnight of the counting day.

Altogether 14 tables would be set up for counting at the spacious Maniram Dewan Trade Centre, while another table would be set up for the Returning Officer and his deputy. Once the EVM counting is over, VVPAT slips of total 20 polling stations would be counted in a specially-made wire mesh enclosure. The polling stations would be selected randomly by means of lottery.

The district has four LACs, of which Dispur LAC has 404 polling stations. �Given the 14 tables at our disposal, we would have 29 rounds of counting. Even if we allot 45 minutes to each round, it will take us anywhere around 22 hours. Earlier we used to get the results by afternoon, which would stretch longer this time,� the DC stated.

While the pace of counting will be like in the previous polls, the result declaration will be delayed as the tallying process will only start after the final round of counting.

Per table there will be one counting agent for each candidate. It may be noted that 17 candidates are in the fray from Guwahati Lok Sabha seat this time.

The postal ballots and electronically transmitted postal ballot system (ETPBS) counting would be done by the Kamrup Rural Returning Officer (RO).

On security arrangements in the counting hall, the Deputy Commissioner informed that a three-tier security system would be in place and camera and other electronic gadgets would be banned for all. �The mediapersons covering the election results would be guided inside up to a certain level by our media cell,� he mentioned.

For the supporters of the candidates, a pedestrian zone would be created beyond which entry would be restricted. Even police and security personnel won�t be allowed inside the hall.

�We have also requested the candidates not to engage protectees as counting agents or representatives as it will create unnecessary inconveniences,� the DC mentioned.

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