After 6 years, the urban local government elections in Tamil Nadu ended peacefully on the 19th, the day before yesterday.
Elections have been completed in 21 corporations, 138 municipalities and 489 municipalities including Chennai. Re-registration is taking place today in only 4 districts.
Following this, the counting of votes will start tomorrow (22nd) at 8 am. Voting is taking place in 268 centers. A total of 57 thousand 746 candidates are in the fray.
2,670 candidates are contesting in 200 wards under Chennai Corporation. DMK, ADMK Despite the fierce competition between, other political parties and independents competed heavily.
There are 61 lakh 73 thousand 112 voters in the Chennai metropolitan area. But was recorded at a very low level during recording. Chennai Corporation, which has the highest number of voters in Tamil Nadu, has the lowest turnout at 43.65 per cent.
Only 26 lakh 94 thousand 785 voters have fulfilled their democratic duty. The polls ended peacefully without any untoward incidents. Electronic machines were then safely brought to the counting centers.
Following this, votes for 200 wards in Chennai will be counted in 15 centers. Vote counting centers are set up zone-wise. The votes of 200 wards are divided and counted in 37 seats in 15 centers.
The vote count is led by 37 election officials. Wards are divided and votes are counted based on the number of polling stations.
The counting centers have 8 to 14 tables. The tables have been increased depending on the number of polling stations. 2,100 employees are involved in the vote count.
Only a maximum of 3 rounds of votes will be counted in this election. Election results of most wards are likely to be known in 2 rounds. First the postal votes are counted and the results are announced.
It is planned to announce the results on a ward wise basis. Votes from 1 to 14 wards are counted in 2 places. Wards 1 to 7 are divided and counted in one place and wards 8 to 14 in another.
So the election results for 37 wards are to be declared simultaneously. The results of the first round will be announced between 9.30 am and 10 am.
Police security has been beefed up at the counting centers. Barriers have been erected. An agent rate per table is allowed. If 15 candidates are contesting in a ward then 15 agents will be featured in one table.
In addition the Assistant Returning Officer may place a candidate or an agent on his or her behalf at the table. Agents of political parties and independent candidates have been issued identity cards to go to the counting centers.
They will be allowed inside the counting centers only if they have that identity card. Chennai Municipal Election Officer and Commissioner Kagandeep Singh Bedi also said about the restrictions on counting centers: –
Votes under the Chennai Corporation are counted in 37 seats in 15 constituencies. Necessary amount of police security has been put in place there. Ballot counting staff is being trained today. Ballots will be counted first as voting begins at 8 p.m.
16 thousand 657 postal applications have been sent to the employees. Ballot papers should reach the concerned Returning Officer before 8 am tomorrow.
The results of the counting of votes will be fully counted and announced ward wise. The first round results will be announced at 10 am. We expect the results for the 200 wards to be fully released by 3 p.m. We have made arrangements for that.
Candidates’ agents will be allowed to come to the counting centers only if they come with an identity card issued by the Election Commission.
Agents are prohibited from using cell phones at counting centers. Electronic machines placed in the security room will be counted ward and polling station wise.
Thus he said.
Security arrangements have been made at all the 15 polling stations in Chennai tomorrow under the supervision of Chennai Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sankarji.
More than 18,000 guards will be deployed on security duty for tomorrow’s vote count.
3 layers of police security have been put in place at 15 centers where electronic voting machines are kept.
The Tamil Nadu Special Police Force has been deployed in front of the ‘Strong Room’ where the electronic devices are kept. They are carrying out security operations with guns in their hands.
Armed guards are stationed for security around the rooms where electronic machines are kept at the counting centers.
Local police have been deployed for security at the entrances and premises of the counting centers. Security guards at both the places will ensure that outsiders do not enter the counting center. Each polling station will be brought under the control of an additional commissioner or associate commissioner tomorrow.
2 Deputy Commissioners are to oversee the security work at the counting centers. They will be accompanied by Assistant Commissioners and Inspectors.
Authorities have been instructed to increase the number of security guards as required at the entrance gate area to prevent any untoward incidents.
Elections were held for 48 wards in Avadi Corporation area. 350 people contested in the constituency here. The turnout was 59.13 percent.
All the votes registered in Avadi Corporation will be counted tomorrow at Avadi Bhattapram Hindu College. For this, heavy police security has been put in place. More than 500 guards are involved in the security operation.
Avadi Corporation officials said that the votes would be counted in 2 rounds and the results would be known.
More than 500 employees will be involved in the counting of votes tomorrow. Avadi Police Commissioner Sandeep Roy Rathore has taken heavy security measures in the areas under Avadi Corporation.
Out of a total of 70 wards in Tambaram Corporation area, 683 candidates contested. Here the turnout was 49.98 percent. All of these votes are counted at Chrompet MIT. For this, heavy police security has been put in place. More than 500 guards are on security duty.
Security arrangements have been made under the supervision of Tambaram Police Commissioner Ravi.