Madurai administration geared for counting

By R. Ilangovan

MADURAI, MAY 12. The district administration of Madurai, Virudhunagar and Sivagangai, is gearing up amid tight security for counting tomorrow, of votes polled in Thursday's elections in 21 Assembly segments.

Authorities claimed that all electronic voting machines from 4,936 polling stations were already brought to the counting centres in Virudhunagar, Madurai and Karaikudi for Sivagangai district.

The EVM of a booth, falling under the Aruppukottai assembly segment in Virudhunagar district where repolling was held today, also reached the district headquarters.

According to the Madurai Collector, Mr. V. Thangavelu, the administration is all set to take up the counting process. The counting would start at 8 a.m. and the first result was expected within two hours. The results of all 10 constituencies in the district-Madurai East, Madurai West, Madurai Central, Samayanallur (res), Melur, Sholavandan, Usilampatti, Tirumangalam, Sedapatti and Tirupparankundram-would be known by noon.

The Collector asked the agents of the candidates to be present at the counting centres by 7 a.m. The administration would not allow any one who reached the centres late. The agents should also possess identification cards. The public address system was installed to announce the results immediately after counting.

The Virudhunagar Collector, Mr. M. Saikumar, said the counting in the constituencies of Virudhunagar, Rajapalayam (res), Sivakasi, Sathur, Aruppukottai and Srivilliputhur in Virudhunagar district, would be undertaken.

The Sivagangai district administration has also completed all the formalities for counting of votes polled in the segments of Sivagangai, Karaikudi, Ilayankudi, Tirupathur and Manamadurai (res).

A senior election official said the first result could be expected by 10.30 a.m. The police made elaborate security arrangements in all the southern districts.

The fate of leaders to be decided included the Assembly Speaker, Mr. P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan, the Ministers, Mr. T. Kirutinan and Mr. Selvaraj, the Makkal Tamil Desam founder leader Mr. S. Kannappan, the BJP State president, Dr. S. P. Kirubanidhi, and its general secretary, Mr. H. Raja, the TMC senior vice- president, Mr. K. Paramalai, and the AIADMK presidium chairman, Mr. Kalimuthu.

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Section  : State Elections
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