Patna, Oct 27 (PTI) Counting of votes for biennial elections to eight Bihar Legislative Council seats is underway on Tuesday, with opposition parties alleging malpractices in the process, officials said.
Since the polling was held on ballot papers, counting trends are not available now, they said.
The counting for the council polls, held on October 23, will decide the electoral fate of 90 candidates in four graduates seats and 60 in four teachers constituencies.
The counting has been taking place at the Bihar School Examination Board’s regional office in Purnea for the Kosi graduates seat, SVN Rajkiya Kanya Uchcha Madhyamik Vidyalaya for the Saran teachers constituency and the MIT administrative block in Muzaffarpur for both Tirhut seats, said a senior official at the CEO’s office here.
In Patna, the counting is underway at Bankipur Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School, while votes are being counted for two Darbhanga constituencies at Khel Bhawan-cum-Vyayamshala Bhawan, he said.
Purnea District Magistrate Anshul Kumar said the counting started at 8 am for the Kosi graduates seat and agents of candidates were present on the premises.
“The seals of ballot boxes were opened in the presence of counting agents. The counting process is going on. Results can be expected in the evening or on Wednesday morning,” he said.
Congress’ Patna teachers constituency candidate Sanjay Yadav held a protest outside the counting centre at Bankipur school, alleging malpractices and the “absence of CCTV cameras” in the counting hall.
“Electoral malpractices have been reported. CCTV cameras have been installed outside the counting hall, but no device was placed inside the hall. It is an attempt to orchestrate malpractices,” Yadav told PTI Videos.
RJD’s Patna teachers constituency nominee Sanjeev Kumar Singh also alleged that the district administration had made arrangements for “carrying out irregularities”.
Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh said he would lodge a complaint to the Election Commission over “absence of CCTV cameras inside the counting hall”.
“CCTV cameras are not installed inside the counting hall, and the condition here is very unhygienic. Adequate arrangements for agents have not been made. How will our counting agents stay here during the expected 18-20 hour counting period? I will write an email to the Election Commission,” he said.
Reacting to the allegation of absence of CCTV cameras inside the counting hall, Patna District Magistrate Kundan Kumar said, “Videography is being done in MLC elections instead of installing CCTV cameras.”
“We are strictly following the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. All the candidates have already been briefed about the standard operating procedures,” he said.
The DM said complaints related to sanitation and hygiene will be addressed promptly.
JD(U)’s national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad exuded confidence that the NDA will win all eight legislative council seats.
“People’s blessings are with us. They have faith in the trustworthy images of former CM Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he added. PTI CORR SUK BDC
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