Counting of ZPTC, MPTC votes | Chief Secretary of Andhra Aditya Nath Das directs oficials to ensure COVID-19 protocol
The Hindu
Addressing a video-conference with the officials, Mr. Das said one could not afford to lose sight of safety guidelines in view of the pandemic.
Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh Aditya Nath Das on Friday directed the district Collectors, Superintendents of Police and other officials to ensure that the counting of the Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) votes, scheduled for September 19 (Sunday), is done in strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocol.
Addressing a video-conference with the officials, Mr. Das said one could not afford to lose sight of safety guidelines in view of the pandemic. He said the Collectors should ensure that all the counting staff and agents were vaccinated and the SPs should make adequate bandobust at the counting centres. He said an incharge officer should be appointed in every district to supervise the arrangements and also the counting process.
Principal Secretary, Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Gopal Krishna Dwivedi, Commissioner Girija Shankar, State Election Commission secretary K.Kanna Babu and others were present.
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.