Even as it struggles to tide over manpower shortage,the state election commission said Saturday counting of votes in the recently-concluded three-tier panchayat elections would be done by July 29. Employees of bank and other sectors are not available for counting of votes this time. SEC secretary Tapas Ray said: A total of 90,000 people are required for the counting process. An instruction has been issued to various district administrations to involve school teachers in the process so that the shortfall is covered. The scenario of manpower will be clear tomorrow. The counting would be held in the 329 blocks of 17 districts with central forces manning the counting centres. According to a source in the election commission,at least one section of central force would be deployed at the counting centre along with the state police. An SEC official said they were trying to deploy more number of central forces at counting centres and sensitive areas. Roy said the votes at gram panchayat seats would be counted first,followed by those at panchayat samiti seats. Votes at zila parisads would be counted last. Arrangements for installation of CCTVs to monitor the counting process have been made.
