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With the exit poll surveys indicating an impressive performance by BJP in Karnataka in the Lok Sabha elections 2014, the mood is upbeat in BJP circles. The Congressmen and those in BJP who are facing the threat of a defeat, however, are hoping that the exit polls would be proved wrong.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in and around the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) campus in Dharwad, the venue of counting of votes, as the election machinery gets ready for the counting of votes for the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency on Friday.
Preparations have almost been completed for the counting of votes in the old main building of the UAS.
The counting will begin at 8 AM on Friday and the results are expected by noon. Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency comprising Dharwad, Hubli-Dharwad West, Hubli-Dharwad East (Reserved), Hubli-Dharwad Central, Kalghatagi, Kundgol and Navalgund assembly segments of Dharwad district and Shiggaon assembly segment of Haveri district has recorded 65.96 per cent polling on April 17.
Of the 1,576,972 voters in the constituency 1,040,096 voters have exercised their franchise which is a turnout of over 66 per cent. Of the 808,115 males voters, 562,400 and of 768,729 female voters 477,696 cast their votes.
The polling percentage in the constituency in 2009 general elections was 56.56 per cent and it was 67.03 per cent in the 2013 assembly elections.
Though there are 17 candidates in the fray, the fight is between sitting MP and state BJP president Prahlad Joshi and Congress MLA from Dharwad constituency Vinay Kulkarni. The Congress had fielded Vinay Kulkarni, a Lingayat hoping he would wean away Lingayat voters who were with the BJP earlier and secure the traditional Congress votes from minorities, OBCs and SC/STs and thereby upset the applecart of Joshi. Whether the Congress’ calculation comes true or the exit poll survey findings would prevail will be known by Friday noon.
Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Sameer Shukla said each counting hall will have 14 tables and the EVMs after being brought from the strong room will be distributed among the 14 tables. Each table will have a counting supervisor, an assistant counting supervisor and a counting micro observer.
In all there will be 17 rounds of counting. As many as 390 officials will be involved.
With the counting day approaching, political parties are shrugging off their lethargy and are readying for the eventuality.
As per the directions of the EC, the RO held a meeting with the counting agents, police officers and other staff on their counting duties and explained to them the duties to be performed.
A hi-tech media centre will be established at the venue where the details of counting and the results of all the Lok Sabha constituencies will be made available. The centre will have TV displaying the trend telephone facilities.
The counting of votes for eight assembly segments will be held simultaneously at eight different halls. One counting agent representing each candidate will be allowed for each table. There will be one assistant returning officer (ARO) for each room and a few officials to assist him.
After bringing the EVMs from strong room and kept on the tables the control unit will be switched on. The officials will see the votes cast in favour of each candidate and record the statement in a sheet and hand it over to the ARO. The AROs after getting the sheets from each table will consolidate the votes for each candidate and process is considered one round. Depending on the number of EVMs used for each assembly segments, the rounds of counting would differ.
The ARO will announce the details of votes secured by each candidate after each round at the counting hall and send it to Returning Officer (RO).
There is provision for providing the photocopy of the sheet after each round to the agents.
The DC who is the RO will consolidate the votes secured by each candidate from all the assembly segments after each round and enter the data online. The details will also be announced on the public address system.
Security arrangements have been made to ensure counting process is peaceful. “Only candidates, their election agents and authorised counting agents will be allowed inside the counting place after producing the identity card. They will not be allowed to carry mobile phones and other computer items. The agents are permitted to carry pen, paper and calculator” he said.
A separate control room will be set up to monitor the process. The three special observers appointed by the ECI will be present.
