Port Blair, Sept 21: After commencement of the Polling on 20th September 2015, the elaborate arrangements have been made for smooth and speedy counting of votes on 22nd September 2015 from 08:00 am onwards. The Counting of constituencies of Port Blair Panchayats will be done at JNRM and for PBMC at Govt Girls Sr. Sec. School, while for other Panchayats it will be done at respective Tehsils. The adequate security arrangements have also been made to ensure the safety and sanctity of the process. The Counting Agents of contesting candidates will also be present at the time of counting and they are required to be present on or before 07:30 AM. The Passes have been issued to the media personnel for the coverage of the entire process.
The second round of training on counting and declaration of results have been imparted for both PBMC & Panchayat area on 21st September 2015 at Tagore Govt. College Auditorium and DRBRAIT Auditorium respectively. The same have been conducted at respective Tehsils for their Counting Personnel.
Meanwhile the Re-polling, due to some procedural lapses by the Polling Team, at Polling Station No. 599, Ramakrishna Pur-1 under Little Andaman Tehsil has been conducted peacefully on 21st September 2015. Total 84.13 Percent voting has been recorded in the Re-Poll.
The dry day shall be observed on 22nd September 2015 on the day of counting. All Bars, ANIIDCO outlets, Defense & Police Canteens are directed to ensure the same. If any violations are found, their license shall be cancelled.
The following instructions have been issued regarding use of mobile phones & cameras during the counting process at JNRM and Govt Girls Sr. Sec School
• The mobile phones shall not be allowed to be taken inside the counting halls and shall not be used from anywhere else within the campus.
• All Media Persons shall be accommodated in the media room. Use of mobile phones and other communication equipment shall be allowed from the media centre.
• It is further clarified that nobody (not even the candidate or RO/ARO etc) except the observers appointed by the Director, Panchayat and Municipal Elections shall be allowed to carry a mobile phone inside the counting hall.
• A Public Communication Room at both the counting hall has been earmarked for safe-keeping of the mobiles etc of the candidates and their agents/representatives to make use of their mobile phones in case of any need.
• No camera- still or video of the media except for official recording of the entire counting process is allowed to be fixed inside any counting hall. No camera stand should therefore be allowed to be taken inside counting hall by media and journalists. Hand held cameras will be allowed to the authorized pass holders. Further, while taking audio video coverage of the counting process, with camera carried in hand or on shoulders by the media/press, under no circumstances, the actual votes recorded on an individual EVM or ballot papers is to be photographed or covered by audio visual coverage. The exact location, up to which the still and video camera of the media and press can move, shall be indicated by the Returning Officer in advance, marked by a line or a string for guidance of all concerned.
The following Traffic arrangements have been made in connection with the counting of votes on 22-09-2015 for the Panchayat and Municipal Elections-2015 to be held at two venues i.e. Girls Senior Secondary School (For Municipal Wards) and JNRM (For Port Blair Gram Panchayat) which have been declared as Counting Centres.
• The movement of all vehicular traffic shall be restricted from 0600 Hrs on the Girls School Road in between Girls School Junction and JNRM Boys Hostel.
• Vehicles coming from Government Press side will be diverted towards South Point and the vehicles coming from ANIIDCO and Netaji Stadium will be diverted towards Marina Park through Mahavir Singh Road.
• Only those vehicles having valid passes for the entry inside the school premises or to be parked in front of R. K. Mission will be allowed to cross the barricades.
• The vehicles not having any passes will be parked on both sides of Mahavir Singh Road upto Dharamshala Crossing.
• The RGT Road will remain clear for the movement of traffic only till Girls Hostel, JNRM Junction.
The movement of vehicular traffic on ATR from Ferrargunj Junction to Ograbranch Junction will also be regulated during counting of votes on 22nd September 2015 in the following manner.
• The movement of vehicular Traffics shall be restricted from 06:30 am to the road towards Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School Ferrargunj from the ATR from either directions leading from Tushnabad & Ferrargunj Junction.
• The Vehicles coming from Jirkatang shall be diverted towards Brindaban, Mathura Junction, Saitankari, Namunaghar, Mithakari and Ograbranch Junction and vehicles coming from Chouldari shall be diverted from Ograbranch Junction towards Mithakari, Namunaghar, Saitankari, Mathura Junction, Brindaban and Ferrargunj.
