Nanjangud – With voters of Nanjangud making a choice of their representative in the Karnataka Assembly in the by-election that was held yesterday, the responsibility of counting votes and declaring the results now rests with election officials.

The counting will take place on April 13 from 8 am and election officials have stored the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) used for the polling yesterday at strong rooms that have been set up at the JSS First Grade College located on Deveerammanahalli Road in Nanjangud Town.

The college has been converted into a fortress with round-the-clock security by Policemen who are deployed every 10 ft.  

Two rooms located on the ground floor of the college building have been converted into strong rooms and their entrances have been locked and sealed. A separate sheet made of plywood has been laid and sealed on the doors, making it impossible for anyone to sneak through.

After the polling was completed, EVMs and VVPAT machines from all the 236 polling booths were brought to the strong room with tight security yesterday. Later, the rooms were sealed under the supervision of District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner C D. Randeep and Returning Officer G. Jagadeesha.

The rooms will be unlocked on Apr. 13 (Thursday), the day of counting, under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner after which the EVMs and VVPATs will be shifted to counting rooms.

A total of 14 tables will be set up in 2 rooms and 56 officials have been deployed for counting duty. Counting will be held in 17 rounds under the supervision of election officials. Only contesting candidates and their agents will be allowed inside. This apart, a special media centre will also be setup for continuous update on counting.

Tight Police security

The entire area surrounding the JSS First Grade College has been cordoned-off and only election officials and Police personnel have been permitted to enter the building. The district administration has deployed a platoon of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) apart from 4 DySPs who are being monitored by Additional SP Kala Krishnaswamy.

This apart, dog squads will visit the college four times a day and DC D. Randeep will be visiting the college twice a day till the counting day.