Counting of votes in the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal will begin at 8:00 AM tomorrow under the direct supervision of Election Commission officials to decide the fate of 472 candidates. Altogether 48 counting venues, comprising 69 counting centres, have been set up, which would be directly supervised by 43 general observers and 55 counting observers, Assistant CEO Amitjyoti Bhattacharya said today.
A three-tier security arrangement has been made for the counting venues with the outer ring, 100 meters from the venue, to be manned by state forces.
The counting hall and strong rooms will be manned by central forces. CCTVs and alternative power sources have been kept ready in all counting venues, Bhattacharya said. The results of six assembly by-elections will also be declared tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Left Front chairman Biman Bose said that the Election Commission should take precautionary measures in counting centres tomorrow and ensure that no person other than authorised agents were allowed entry. Alleging that Trinamool Congress might try to resort to malpractices during the counting of votes, he said that EC should also make arrangements for emergency lights in case there was power failure or in case counting continued till evening.
He said that counting agents should always be alert to prevent any malpractices.
