3 Haryana constituencies set for counting

Chandigarh, May 24 (UNI) Counting of votes in the May 22 byelection polls in three assembly constituencies in Haryana will be held tomorrow.

An official spokesman said all arrangements for the counting process had been made in Adampur, Gohana and Indri constituencies and the rehearsals for this purpose were held today.

The counting will begin at 0700 hrs and all the results are expected to be declared by afternoon.

Election Commission Observers and district level authorities gave directions to the officials associated with the counting.

The Election Commission officials said no dereliction of duty would be tolerated in the counting work. All the officials will have to reach the counting centres at 0600 hrs and the Commission would take disciplinary action against those who would abstain from their duties.

Complete transparency would be maintained in the counting work and results would be declared round-wise. All security arrangements also have been made at the counting centres, they added.

Over 75 per cent turnout was reported in the three assembly constituencies in Haryana, including the prestigious Adampur seat, where byelections were held today.

In Adampur assembly segment in Hisar district former chief minister Bhajan Lal is trying his luck once again, after being disqualified as an MLA under the anti-defection law for floating a party while remaining a member of the Congrss.

Mr Bhajan Lal, who won the prestigicous Adampur seat in 2005, had launched a new political outfit Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC).

He is pitted against former finance minister and INLD leader Sampat Singh, former deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal's son and Congress candidate Ranjit Singh and Haryana BJP vice-president Swami Raghavanad.

In all the three assembly seats, the bypoll was necessitated after the three Congress legislators were disqualified for joining the HJC, headed by Mr Kuldeep Singh Bishnoi--son of ailing Haryana leader Bhajan Lal.

UNI MA RSA KP1912