Battle for Jharkhand: Mega Monday of counting to decide who gets chair of CM

Ranchi: After the end of grueling five phases of assembly elections all eyes are on the ‘big day’ Monday when the counting of the votes will be taken up in the state from 8 am. Counting across the state will commence simultaneously on all the 81 seats and it is expected that the first trends would be available from 9 am.

The first result is expected at around 1 pm and the last around 8 pm. As per the information available, the results from Torpa and Chandankiyari will be out first as here only counting of 13 rounds will be held whereas Chatra would be the most delayed due to 28 rounds of counting. Chief Electoral Officer of the state Vinay Kumar Choubey said that in all the district headquarters counting of votes will be done.

He said that a minimum of 14 tables has been set up in Hatia for counting while for Saraikela seat a maximum of 26 tables has been set. He said that first the postal ballots will be counted. Detailing further he said that the postal ballot has the QR code which will be scanned first and then it would be counted.

After the postal ballots, the votes in the EVM will be counted. He said that after the report of one round is finalized than only the second round of counting will take place. He said that on every counting table a counting assistant, counting supervisor and counting micro observer will be present.

The counting agents of the various parties and a returning officer will be also present at the table. At the time of counting of postal ballots an a counting assistant will be increased. As per the instructions of the Election Commission of India after the end of counting EVMs of five booths of the concerned assembly area will be randomly matched and thereafter results will be declared.