The election commission has made pucca arrangements for Bihar assembly elections counting of votes on November 10 as the state awaits results of a closely-fought election. The commission said it has set up a total of 55 counting centres, housing 414 halls, across 38 districts of the state that faced voting in three phases on October 28, November 3 and November 7. Four districts of East Champaran (with 12 assembly constituencies), Gaya (10 constituencies), Siwan (eight constituencies) and Begusarai (seven) have a maximum of 3 counting centres.
Remaining districts either have one or two counting centres each. On consideration with increase in COVID 19 cases, election commission have steps to ensure that COVID guidelines are strictly followed during the counting. Entry inside the counting centres besides sanitisers usage face masks are mandatory. In the state capital Patna, votes for all the 14 assembly constituencies will be counted at just one centre set up at A.N. College.
Bihar Chief Electoral Officer H R Srinivasa said the Election Commission has established a three-tier security system for strong rooms (housing the Electronic Voting Machines) and the counting centres. The inner core is being guarded by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), then there is the Bihar Military Police (BMP) and then the district police, he told reporters. "We have deployed 19 companies of CAPF just for the security of the strong rooms and counting centres. We have 59 CAPF companies to ensure law and order during and in the aftermath of the counting process," he added. 1 CAPF company comprises 100 personnel.
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