Coimbatore: Election officials have set up tight security ahead of counting of votes for the urban local body elections on February 22.
Special poll monitoring officer S Nagarajan on Sunday inspected the strongrooms in Government College of Technology (GCT), where voting machines from the 100 wards of the Coimbatore corporation are kept. Election observer M Govinda Rao, collector GS Sameeran and corporation commissioner Rajagopal Sunkara accompanied him.
Three-tier security arrangement have been made for the safety of the machines at the strongrooms, an official said. “CCTV cameras have been installed on the college campus and the EVMs are monitored round-the-clock. We have restricted entry of outsiders. Political party representatives are allowed only after they produce identity cards,” he said.
While voting machines from the city are kept at GCT, those from municipalities and town panchayats are kept in strongrooms close to the civic bodies. In all, EVMs are kept in 17 locations across the district.
Election officials dismissed the charges of irregularities in polling and that the official machinery was acting in favor of the ruling party. AIADMK had also charged that the outcome of the polls could be manipulated to suit the ruling party.
Rubbishing the reason, the official said that the polls were held in a fair manner. “So would be counting of votes and declaration of results,” he added.
Meanwhile, AIADMK MLAs led by former minister SP Velumani submitted a petition to Nagarajan, complaining about DMK. They urged him to ensure proper counting and declaration of results without the intervention of the ruling party.
Special poll monitoring officer S Nagarajan on Sunday inspected the strongrooms in Government College of Technology (GCT), where voting machines from the 100 wards of the Coimbatore corporation are kept. Election observer M Govinda Rao, collector GS Sameeran and corporation commissioner Rajagopal Sunkara accompanied him.
Three-tier security arrangement have been made for the safety of the machines at the strongrooms, an official said. “CCTV cameras have been installed on the college campus and the EVMs are monitored round-the-clock. We have restricted entry of outsiders. Political party representatives are allowed only after they produce identity cards,” he said.
While voting machines from the city are kept at GCT, those from municipalities and town panchayats are kept in strongrooms close to the civic bodies. In all, EVMs are kept in 17 locations across the district.
Election officials dismissed the charges of irregularities in polling and that the official machinery was acting in favor of the ruling party. AIADMK had also charged that the outcome of the polls could be manipulated to suit the ruling party.
Rubbishing the reason, the official said that the polls were held in a fair manner. “So would be counting of votes and declaration of results,” he added.
Meanwhile, AIADMK MLAs led by former minister SP Velumani submitted a petition to Nagarajan, complaining about DMK. They urged him to ensure proper counting and declaration of results without the intervention of the ruling party.
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