Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s constituency of Mandrem will be the first result to be declared, while Sanquelim will probably be the last of the North Goa district. Officials said that 71 rounds of counting will take place in the 19 constituencies in north district.
Addressing the media spelling out arrangements for the counting day, North Goa Collector Nila Mohanan said that counting of postal ballot papers will begin at 8 am and EVMs will be taken up after a gap of 30 minutes. Counting has been divided into two phases. “We will open the strong rooms at 7 am, and commence counting of postal ballot papers first at 8 am and EMVs at 8.30 am. In each of the 10 counting halls, two Assembly constituencies, except for Mapusa will be taken up for counting,” she said.
Counting, she said will be held across 129 tables in 71 rounds. The candidate, election agent, counting agent, and staff-on-duty are permitted at each table. The counting process at each table will be monitored by a gazetted officer appointed as supervisor, counting observer and micro observer. While counting of ballot papers will be monitored by one supervisor and two counting assistants; all of whom are gazetted officers.
The local administration has ensured watertight security to shift the steel trunks containing ballot papers, to the counting centre on the eve of counting day. The district has received 75 percent of the postal ballot votes till Wednesday, while those in drop boxes will be opened only on counting day.
To ensure law and order, the collector has imposed Section 144 of the CrPC and banned any eatery within 200 mtrs of the counting centre on Saturday. “The executive magistrate and special additional district magistrate will supervise law and order,” she said adding that general observers arrived in Goa on Thursday.About 400 armed security personnel will guard the main building.
