Panchayat Polls: BJP & Cong Fear Tampering Of Ballot Boxes, SEC Issues Instructions To Dist Collectors

Bhubaneswar: With opposition BJP and Congress expressing apprehension over security of ballot boxes of panchayat elections kept in strong rooms, the State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday issued a set of instructions to district collectors in this regard.

In a letter to the collectors, the SEC directed them to take strong steps to ensure security of the ballot boxes that would be kept in strong rooms set up in each block headquarters. The sealed ballot boxes must not be tampered till those are opened for counting of votes on February 26, 27 and 28, he said.

The collectors were also told to make arrangements for uninterrupted power supply to the buildings where the strong rooms have been set up. Besides, the building and its surrounding areas must be covered with CCTV cameras. The election officials must remain alert so that the cameras are not damaged or their footage tampered, the SEC stated.

The Commission further said in the places where repolling will be held, the ballot boxes of those booths must be kept in separate strong rooms.

During the counting of votes, the agents of the candidates must be diligently checked before entering the places to ensure that none of them carries mobile phones, spycams or any electronic gadgets. These restrictions will also be applicable to the officials who would be engaged in counting of the votes, the SEC said in the instructions to the collectors.

Earlier in the day, delegations of the opposition BJP and Congress appealed to the SEC to make adequate security arrangements to prevent tampering of the ballot boxes by the ruling BJD.

“We apprehend that the BJD workers will attempt to tamper the ballot boxes in those areas where they are going to lose. Since it is not possible for the candidates to ensure security of the ballot boxes, the SEC should take necessary steps in this regard,” said BJP leader Dillip Mallik.

Similarly, a Congress delegation led by State Mahila Congress president Bandita Parida submitted a memorandum to the SEC. “The Commission should direct the district and block officials to take steps to provide uninterrupted power supply and functioning of CCTV cameras till the counting of votes and declaration of results are not over,” they said.