The process will take place in 31 halls at six centres
After a nearly month-long wait since Puducherry voted under President’s rule on April 6, the spotlight has zoomed in on a sprawling campus in the city where the votes will be counted amid tight security on Sunday.
The process will involve accounting for an estimated 8.20 lakh votes polled across 30 Assembly constituencies after the Union Territory, with 10.04 lakh voters, registered a turnout of 81.69%. The battle for the 30-seat House (which also has three nominated members) is essentially between the Congress-led alliance comprising the DMK, the Left parties and the VCK, and the NDA consisting of the AINRC, the BJP, the AIADMK and the PMK. The 324 candidates in the fray include nominees of the AMMK, the NTK and the MNM and Independents.
Puducherry Assembly polls | Counting to go on despite many poll officials testing positive
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Puducherry Unified Ministerial Staff Association estimates figure to be above 100
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Tracking the chain: A health worker in PPE suit taking throat swabs of people at the Government Primary Health Centre in Kosapalayam on Friday.
| Photo Credit: KUMAR SS
Puducherry Unified Ministerial Staff Association estimates figure to be above 100
In spite of the setback to its preparations for counting on May 2 with a significant number of polling staff testing positive for COVID-19 over the last few days, the Elections Department is geared to ensure that the process goes on smoothly and declaration of results are on schedule. While exact numbers of polling officials who will miss out on election duty after testing positive are not immediately available, the Puducherry Unified Ministerial Staff Association says that the figure is above 100.
‘Precautions in place in polling booths’
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A number of safety precautions will be in place across polling stations on April 6.
As per the ECI guidelines, the number of electors allowed per polling station has been restricted to 1,000. All polling stations will be sanitised, starting Sunday.
All electors will wear face mask before entry. They will be subjected to thermal scanning and provided with one glove to press the button. Electors also have to maintain social distancing at the station. Arrangements are in place for safe disposal of Covid protective materials. All stations have been provided with assured minimum facilities. Wheelchairs will be provided in all stations to assist PwDs and volunteers will be available to provide transportation. Voter Help Desks will be in place under BLOs to guide electors in locating their names and polling station. Besides, the ECI has restricted number of counting tables to seven per hall at counting centr