Jaya demands sufficient safeguards during counting of votes

Chennai, April 19: AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa today (April 19) demanded that the Election Commission take "sufficient safeguards" including deploying Central paramilitary forces during counting of votes on May 13 and videograph the entire process.

"The Election Commission is requested to deploy paramilitary forces at all counting centres in Tamil Nadu in order to ensure that law and order is maintained from the commencement of counting of votes till the declaration of election is made by the Returning Officers.

"Paramilitary forces may be deployed to prevent any intruder without a valid identity card from entering the counting centres," she said in a letter addressed to Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar.

She demanded that the counting process should commence in the presence of an EC-deputed Observer and "he should be present throughout the counting process till the declaration of election is made by the Returning Officer."

"The entire counting process right from removing of the seal of each EVM till the votes of each EVM are counted must be videographed by the EC in order to prevent any malpractice," she urged.

The Opposition leader said the result of the counting of votes of each round should be displayed on the notice board in the presence of all the candidates.

Voting was held for 234 Assembly constituencies on April 13 and EVMs are stored in strong rooms in 91 counting centres across the state with a four-tier security cover given by both the state police and central paramilitary forces.

PTI