TFP Bureau, Raipur, May 23, 2024: Chief Electoral Officer of Chhattisgarh, Smt. Reena Babasaheb Kangale, conducted an extensive review of the preparations for the upcoming vote counting on June 4 in Rajnandgaon, Durg, and Mahasamund. During her visit, she examined the security measures for the electronic voting machines (EVMs) stored in strong rooms and inspected the counting rooms being prepared at each district headquarters.
Accompanied by Additional Chief Electoral Officer Mr. Nileshkumar Mahadev Kshirsagar, Assistant Chief Electoral Officer Mrs. Rashmi Verma, Commissioner of Durg Division Mr. Satyanarayan Rathore, and other district officials, Mrs. Kangale issued necessary instructions to ensure uninterrupted and organized vote counting.
Mrs. Kangale’s inspection included reviewing arrangements for assembly-wise counting rooms, candidate and agent meetings, entry passes, CCTV monitoring, videography, and security protocols. She emphasized that mobile phones and other electronic devices would be prohibited in the counting hall, with exceptions for media representatives in designated media centers. She directed media personnel to observe vote counting in small groups.
Additionally, she inspected the design layout of the counting venue and rooms, instructing that it be displayed prominently for the convenience of election agents. Discussions were held with Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) about the arrangement of counting tables and the process for transferring control units from strong rooms to counting rooms.
Feedback from political party representatives outside the strong rooms was positive, with parties expressing satisfaction over the robust security and monitoring measures in place. The vote counting, which will include postal ballots and VVPAT slips, is set to take place on June 4 across all respective district headquarters, covering the votes cast in three phases for the Lok Sabha General Election 2024.
