“Counting of votes will take place in peaceful manner”: Ramban Deputy Election Officer on J&K polls

Ramban (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], October 8 (ANI): As the counting gets underway for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly election results, Deputy Election Officer in Ramban, Abdul Jabbar highlighted the arrangements set up for the counting of the votes in 90 assembly constituencies across the union territory.

The Deputy Ramban Election Officer said that all the preparations have been made for the counting procedure and that the counting of votes is going to take place in a very peaceful manner in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking to ANI, Abdul Jabbar said, “All the arrangements for the counting as per ECI guidelines have been prepared. This includes the setting up of tables, the process of counting postal ballots. Additionally all the preparations for the security has also been set. The counting is going to take place in a very peaceful manner.”

Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Dr Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat also spoke about the preparations made for the counting day and said,”The counting hall in the assembly segment is set, with the tables and the required staff. Depending on the polling stations we have 9-13 tables. There is a counting superviser, assistant and a micro observer at a table who look upon the whole process.”

“There is an RO and an election counting observer under the ECI guidelines. All other arrangements like the cctv, planning of the staff, all has been done. The entire process of counting is done in a very transparent manner. More than 900 counting agents have been appointed for this entire process. This shows how the ECI brings transparent, fair and free process to this system,” said Bhat.

Rajouri District Election Officer (DEO), Abhishek Sharma also spoke to ANI and said, “Counting of votes will start in some time. All the preparations related to the counting process have been reviewed. Everyone can check the updates related to the voting on the website of the Election Commission of India. Proper security arrangements have been made.”

Meanwhile, the counting of votes for assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana have begun on Tuesday at 8 am.

Amid speculation over possible permutations and combinations for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Tuesday express hope for positive outcome.

“Here’s wishing all my colleagues and allies the very best of luck for today. We fought the good fight and now, InshaAllah, the results will reflect that.” he said.

The Election Commission of India said that an overall 63.88 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The poll panel said that a voter turn of 69.69 percent was recorded in the third phase held on October 1.

The security has been heightened at a counting centre in Jammu.

On the day of the counting, the strong rooms will be opened in the presence of candidates, their authorized representatives, Returning Officers (ROs)/Assistant Returning Officers (AROs), and ECI observers, with videography conducted. Mobile phones will not be allowed inside the counting centres.

During the process, only authorized individuals, officials, or staff will be permitted inside and around the counting centres.

People and political party representatives have been requested not to crowd the counting centres and check the results at home. The results will be available on the Election Commission of India’s website http://results.eic.in/ and through the Voter Helpline App.

Exit polls have predicted that Congress is poised to win Haryana and that the National Conference-Congress alliance has an edge in Jammu and Kashmir.

The results are likely to reflect political sentiments as parties gear up for upcoming electoral battles in Maharashtra, Jharkhand.