Counting employees and agents entering the counting hall for Dhanbad Municipal Corporation elections.
Jagran correspondent, Dhanbad. After the completion of Jharkhand municipal elections on 23 February, now it is the turn of counting of votes. In Dhanbad, voting was held for Dhanbad Municipal Corporation and Chirkunda Municipal Council.
The counting process of votes started at the Government Polytechnic, Dhanbad, amid tight security arrangements from 8 am on Friday. Counting agents of the candidates and officers and employees on duty were given entry into the counting hall sequentially.
By breaking the seal of the strong room, ballot boxes are being taken out and counting of votes has started. Trends and initial results are likely to be known within two to three hours of the start of counting. First the results of ward councilors will be declared, after which the results of the post of Mayor and President will be released.
Ward councilors results today and mayor results tomorrow
There is tight security arrangements at the counting venue. A media cell is also ready to compile counting news for media persons. Entry of vehicles has been completely banned on the road leading from Binod Bihari Chowk to Bekarbandh.
There is increased activity at the Government Polytechnic counting venue. There is a huge crowd. The tents of the candidates have already been set up. In this also the supporters of the candidates are discussing the elections. Food shops are decorated nearby.
Counting of votes of Mayor and 55 Ward Councilors of Dhanbad Municipal Corporation will be done on 117 tables in 11 counting halls and counting of votes of Chirkunda Municipal Council Chairman and 21 Ward Councilors will be done on 24 tables in four counting halls. First of all, the counting of votes of Ward 1, 6, 11, 16, 21, 26, 31, 36, 41, 46 and Ward 51 of Dhanbad Municipal Corporation will start. After that, ward wise counting will be done.
11 tables for ward numbers one to five of Dhanbad Municipal Corporation, 11 from six to 10, 9 from 11 to 15, 10 from 16 to 20, 12 from 21 to 25, 12 from 26 to 30, 10 tables from 31 to 35, 10 from 36 to 40, 10 from 41 to 45, 46 to Counting of votes will be done on 10 tables of 50 and 12 tables for wards 51 to 55. Counting of ward councilor and mayor will happen together.
Counting of wards one to five, six to 10, 11 to 15 and 16 to 21 of Chirkunda Municipal Council will be done on six tables each. Here also the counting of ward councilor and president will be done together. There will be a counting supervisor and two assistants at each table.
Entry of common vehicles closed on Binod Bihari Mahato Chowk to Bekarbandh route.
To ensure smooth and safe traffic during vote counting, the traffic police has implemented route diversion. Movement of any type of normal passenger vehicle or private vehicle is completely prohibited on the route from Binod Bihari Mahato Chowk to Bekarbandh.
Police personnel have started stopping vehicles from seven in the morning by erecting barricades. This decision has been taken with the aim of avoiding crowd and jam situation around the counting venue. People living on this route are being allowed to leave after checking their IDs.
Some people were also seen arguing. Only officials and personnel deployed for counting of votes and candidates and their authorized agents are being allowed to travel on this route. Even authorized vehicles related to election work are being parked in the Polytechnic grounds only. Parking of vehicles on the road is not allowed. This special traffic arrangement will remain in effect till 8 pm tonight.