Only authorised persons can enter counting venues

Bhopal: On the directives of Election Commission of India, only authorised persons will be allowed to enter in counting venues. These include counting observers and counting assistants, persons authorised by Election Commission, government servants on election duty and candidates, their election and counting agents. It has been directed to ensure before start of counting that no person other than authorised persons is present in the counting hall.

The commission has also directed to pay attention to the fact that police officers do not come under the category of “government servants on election duty” whether they are in uniform or plainclothesmen. In ordinary conditions, they should not be allowed inside the counting hall except when their presence if required to maintain law & order. Similarly, ministers and deputy ministers of the state and Central Government also do not fall under this category. They can enter counting hall only when they are themselves candidates. As per new rules of the commission, they cannot be appointed as election or counting agents since they are under security of gunmen. Therefore, they will not allowed to enter counting hall. The commission has directed not to allow entry of such unauthorised persons of above-mention description in any counting venue.