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‘Appoint counting agents for VVPAT slips to ensure transparency’: DMK writes to EC

The DMK has written to the Election Commission, asking the polling body in the state to increase security arrangements at counting centres on May 23 when results of the Lok Sabha elections are announced. The main Opposition party in the state has sought the appointment of counting agents by each candidate for counting of VVPAT paper slips for each polling booth, as per the EC’s Hand Book for Counting Agents. These measures have been suggested in order to clarify discrepancies that may arise on polling day, the party stated.

A letter written by TR Baalu, senior leader and Headquarters Principal Secretary of the party to Satyabrata Sahoo, Tamil Nadu’s Chief Electoral Officer stated, “…every candidate is entitled to appoint one Counting Agent for Returning Officer’s table, one Agent for each Table(14 tables for each round) as per Clause 4.4 of the said Hand Book and one more agent for Postal Ballot Counting as per Clause 9.8 of the said Hand Book for Counting Agents.” On Thursday, Tamil Nadu will know the results of not just the 38 Lok Saha seats that went to polls but also 22 MLA seats which could decide the fate of the state government.

The letter pointed out that the Hand Book was ‘silent’ with regard to the appointment of counting agents for monitoring the mandatory verification of VVPAT slips of five polling booths of each Assembly segment of all parliamentary constituencies and five polling booths of each Assembly Constituency, which faced bye-elections. “Unless permission is granted to appoint separate counting agents for counting of VVPAT paper trails, there would not be any transparency and credibility in the counting of VVPAT paper slips. Hence, every candidate shall be permitted to appoint one counting agent for each polling booth selected for verification of VVPAT paper slips,” the DMK stated. 

Further, the party sought that signatures shall be obtained from the counting agents of the respective candidates present in each table after counting of EVM votes in each round consisting of 14 tables. Referring to a form called the ‘Result of Printed Paper Count’, the party said, “Such procedure shall be strictly adhered to without any deviation in each round of counting before proceeding with the next round of counting. It is also necessary to furnish a copy of filled-in Part II of Form 17C and filled-in Annexure to each of the counting agents, so that the number of votes recorded in polling and the votes recorded during counting can be compared, to find out any discrepancy.”

Source: The News Minute