Surat: Preparations are in full swing for counting of votes cast during assembly elections for the seats in Surat city and district on December 18 amid tight security. Congress is hoping to stop BJP juggernaut in the Diamond City, especially in the assembly constituencies where Patidar votes will be a decisive factor with regard to victory and defeat of candidates of the two main parties. In 2012 assembly elections, BJP had swept the polls by winning 15 out of the total 16 seats in Surat city and district. All the 12 assembly seats in the city went to BJP, with Congress tasting a bitter defeat.
The fate of 175 candidates, who contested on 16 assembly seats in the city and district, were sealed in elecronic voting machines (EVMs) on December 9 by the voters. Around 2,000 polling staff are receiving training for counting around 26.82 lakh votes polled on the election day.
The counting of votes for six rural seats, including Bardoli, Mandvi, Mangrol, Mahuva, Kamrej and Olpaad, will be held at Gandhi Engineering College at Majura Gate, while those for the remaining 10 assembly seats of Karanj, Varachha Road, Katargam, Udhna, Limbayat, Majura, Surat (West), Surat (East), Surat (North) and Choriyasi will be held at Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) at Piplod.
The EVMs were sealed on Sunday morning and kept in the strong rooms at Gandhi Engineering College and SVNIT. The Election Commission of India had appointed 17 observers for the 16 assembly seats in Surat city and district. While nine observers were general, six were expenditure observers and two for maintaining law and order situation. All these observers, who were from other states had left, but will return on December 17, sources said.
Surat district deputy collector C P Patel told TOI, "The election office is preparing for the counting day on December 18. Around 2,000 polling officers will be counting the votes at the two counting centres of Gandhi Engineering College and SVNIT. All the election figures were sent by us to the Election Commission of India."
The fate of 175 candidates, who contested on 16 assembly seats in the city and district, were sealed in elecronic voting machines (EVMs) on December 9 by the voters. Around 2,000 polling staff are receiving training for counting around 26.82 lakh votes polled on the election day.
The counting of votes for six rural seats, including Bardoli, Mandvi, Mangrol, Mahuva, Kamrej and Olpaad, will be held at Gandhi Engineering College at Majura Gate, while those for the remaining 10 assembly seats of Karanj, Varachha Road, Katargam, Udhna, Limbayat, Majura, Surat (West), Surat (East), Surat (North) and Choriyasi will be held at Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) at Piplod.
The EVMs were sealed on Sunday morning and kept in the strong rooms at Gandhi Engineering College and SVNIT. The Election Commission of India had appointed 17 observers for the 16 assembly seats in Surat city and district. While nine observers were general, six were expenditure observers and two for maintaining law and order situation. All these observers, who were from other states had left, but will return on December 17, sources said.
Surat district deputy collector C P Patel told TOI, "The election office is preparing for the counting day on December 18. Around 2,000 polling officers will be counting the votes at the two counting centres of Gandhi Engineering College and SVNIT. All the election figures were sent by us to the Election Commission of India."
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