All ready at 5 counting centres in Madurai district

Madurai: Five counting centres have been set up and three-tier security arrangements are in place in Madurai district for counting of votes in 10 assembly constituencies which will commence on Monday morning. District election officer and collector K J Praveen Kumar held a consultation meeting with election observers and senior police officials on Sunday. He said additional security will be provided to statues of leaders. Police will take strict action against those who take law into their hands.Procedures to be followed on counting day were explained in detail, and necessary arrangements were discussed to ensure a completely transparent and accurate counting process. Separate counting tables for each constituency, round-wise counting procedures, scheduled appointment of supervisors, and responsibilities of micro-observers and supervisors were clarified.Central Armed Police Forces are deployed in the first tier, Armed Reserve Police in the second tier, and local law and order police in the third tier as per ECI guidelines. In Madurai city, two counting centres have been set up at Thiruparankundram Thiagarajar College and Madura College. Three other centres fell under the jurisdiction of superintendent of police in Madurai rural area. As Madurai East constituency alone has a higher number of polling booths, the number of counting rounds there will be more. Adequate lighting and security arrangements have been made for counting if it extended into late hours.QR code-based entry passes have been introduced this time as part of a digital system being followed. The QR codes to be issued by returning officers are to be scanned by central security forces, and only authorised people will be permitted entry. A 100-metre zone around the counting centre has been declared pedestrian zone. Only candidates, their election agent, and counting agents are to be allowed inside. Each centre has 14 tables for EVMs and separate tables for postal ballots.Permission has been granted only to returning officers and AROs for using mobile phone as they have to receive OTPs and upload data on Encore software. Security personnel are also permitted to use mobile phones for scanning entry passes. Superintendent of police P K Aravind, election conducting officers and other govt officials participated in the meeting.