Top officials inspect proposed strongroom ahead of bypoll

The Deputy Commisioner-cum-District Election Officer Himanshu Jain and Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma on Friday visited the proposed strongroom and counting centre for electronic voting machines (EVMs) at Khalsa College for Women, Ghumar Mandi, ahead of the upcoming Ludhiana West by-poll to review the arrangements. They were accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner (UD) RP Singh, who is also the RO for the by-poll.

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DC Jain and CP Sharma reiterated the district administration’s unwavering commitment to conducting free and fair elections, while issuing directions to the officers. They said fool-proof security arrangements would be made by the district administration at the venues during the polling and counting processes.

“The guidelines of Election Commission of India will be followed in letter and spirit for the strongrooms and counting centres,” they said.

Both officials also said that the district administration would put in place an elaborate system of security measures and procedural checks to ensure the security of the strongrooms/counting centres. The safeguards will be implemented with the active involvement of political parties, candidates and their representatives at every stage to build their confidence in the efficacy and reliability of the electoral process.