Poll panel simplifies counting procedure

NEW DELHI, February 27: The Election Commission EC has simplified the procedure for counting of votes, which will commence on March 2, and...

NEW DELHI, February 27: The Election Commission EC has simplified the procedure for counting of votes, which will commence on March 2, and first results are likely to be announced the same night, Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill said today.

Responding to questions at a video conference after inaugurating the Election Information Centre at the Press Information Bureau Conference Hall here, Gill said that the earlier practice of double mixing of ballot papers had been done away with as it consumed a lot of time and instead there would be only single mixing. He indicated that the first poll results were likely to come from Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Pondicherry and Chandigarh.

Gill said that ballot papers would be opened at 8.00 am on March 2. The process of mixing and rebundling would be completed by 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm in most places and counting will commence thereafter. 8220;Results will start coming faster from March 3 morning. A lot of it will be over by that night,8221; he said. Gilladded that returning officers and poll observers would be in direct contact with the EC through fax and hot lines 8220;updating us stage by stage8221;. Gill criticised the state governments for demanding Central forces during elections and wondered whether it meant that state police forces had lost neutrality. The cost involved in sending such forces around the country often affected development, he said, adding, 8220;This is a sad reflection on the situation.8221;

Gill also strongly advocated the amendment of the Representation of People Act, 1951, to prevent those with criminal backgrounds and doubtful credentials from contesting Parliamentary and Assembly elections.

8220;It is up to the new Parliament to consider the question of enlarging the scope of section eight of the RPA, which bars convicted persons from contesting elections,8221; he said. The CEC regretted that the 43 recognised political parties were finding it difficult to find 543 able and responsible candidates from a population of 100 crore.

About thedemand for repoll in Sambhal Lok Sabha constituency, Gill said that the EC had not taken any decision on the issue so far. There have been reports of booth capturing and poll irregularities from Sambhal, where Defence Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav is pitted against Bharatiya Janata Party-supported D P Yadav. When told that many voters in Bhopal, despite holding Photo Identity Cards PIC, were prevented from casting ballots as their names did not appear in the rolls, Gill admitted that not all personnel entrusted with enumeration had been efficient.

8220;May be in some cases, the enumerator did not like the voter8217;s face and excluded him from the rolls. Or perhaps in another case a well-dressed voter may have found his name in the rolls,8221; he said, adding that the rolls next time would have the voters PIC number with his name.