Preparations underway for vote counting on May 27

Medchal-Malkajgiri: District Collector Dr MV Reddy held a meeting with Mandal Parishad Development Officers (MPDOs), here in the conference hall of Collectorate office on Friday, to review the arrangements to be made for the counting of votes on May 27 for local elections.

Addressing MPDOs, the collector instructed the MPDOs to make all the necessary arrangements for peaceful conduct of vote counting for five mandals of the district at Haswitha College, which is located on the premises of the Collectorate.

Collector ordered the MPDOs to conduct training sessions at every mandal for counting staff before May 20. He asked them to ensure that the staff gets complete awareness on the counting process, so that the process can be completed smoothly.

Stringent action will be taken against counting staff who fail to attend the training sessions, he said. He also ordered MPDOs to conduct an awareness meeting with candidates and agents to clarify their doubts and apprehensions and to take their suggestions.

The collector instructed the officials to make necessary arrangements at counting centers, such as food, drinking water, coolers, tents, primary health centers, toilets, parking and traffic control measures. Counting staff, agents should arrive at counting centers before 6 am, he said.

A check list of duties for staff of different levels should be prepared and duties should be allocated as per the list. He ordered the officials to ensure that electronic gadgets, such as mobiles, calculators, water and other liquid items, are not brought into the counting centres.

Webcasting arrangements should also be made at counting centers, he said. Joint collector D Srinivas Reddy, DRO Madhukar Reddy, DPO Ravi Kumar, MPDOs, returning officers and others participated in the elections.