SRINAGAR: All arrangements are in place for counting of votes in Anantnag assembly constituency, where polling was held on June 22 to elect a representative from among 8 candidates, including Chief Minsiter Mehbooba Mufti.
The seat fell vacant following the demise of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7, 2016 in AIIMS, New Delhi.
The constituency witnessed uncontested polls until 1972 when for the first time people voted and elected their representative.
About 34 per cent of a total votes of 85608 voters cast their votes at 102 polling stations set up in the constituency.
Besides Ms Mufti of PDP, Hilal Ahmad Shah of Congress, Iftikhar Hussain Misgar of National Conference (NC) and independents Tejinder Singh, Manzoor Ahmad Khan, Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, Masroor Ahmad Mir and Mushtaq Ahmad Shah are seeking mandate from the constituency.
Ms Mehbooba, who is not member of any of the House, is presently MP from South Kashmir. Chief Electoral Officer, Shantmanu said that the counting of votes shall be held tomorrow at 0800 hrs.
He said a counting hall has been earmarked for the purpose where 10 tables have been set up and 11 rounds would be conducted for the counting of votes. The political parties have been asked to depute their representatives on the counting day well in time.
He said a Control Room has also been established at the counting venue to circulate the information about the counted votes. Similarly, the Counting of votes shall be held at Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi simultaneously, he said.
The Returning Officer scrutinized the diaries of Presiding Officers in presence of representative Political Parties and found all the papers in order and as such there shall be no re-poll at any polling booth. The strong room was sealed in presence of political parties and shall be opened in their presence on the counting day.
Necessary security arrangements have been put in place on the venue where strong room has been established with required paraphernalia including CCTV.
The Power Development Department (PDD) has been asked for provision of uninterrupted power supply on the venue. The final round of training of the supervisory and counting staff was held yesterday to acquaint them with the techniques to handle the EVMs (Agencies)
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