Bhubaneswar, June 3: As anticipation mounts, the fate of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituency candidates in Odisha hangs in the balance, awaiting the outcome of Tuesday's vote counting process. With preparations in full swing, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is poised to commence the tallying at 8:00 am tomorrow, ensuring a meticulous and secure procedure across the state's various centers.
A robust three-tier security apparatus envelops the 69 strongrooms housing the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) devices scattered throughout Odisha. These strongrooms, fortified with stringent measures, are closely monitored via CCTV surveillance, complemented by the presence of 25 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and continuous police patrols.
In Bhubaneswar, the BJB College serves as a stronghold for the safeguarded EVMs, with both CAPF and State Armed Police assuming responsibility for their protection. Similar vigilance characterizes the strongrooms in Baripada, where candidates and their supporters stand sentinel alongside the CAPF and state police, maintaining a watchful eye on the electoral integrity.
Additional strongrooms, established at the Berhampur Government Women’s Polytechnic and Uma Charan Patnaik Engineering School, echo the stringent security protocols observed across the state, underscoring the gravity of the electoral process.
Meanwhile, the ECI underscores the imperative of upholding post-election law and order in Odisha. Over 70 CAPF companies are slated for deployment until June 6, with 25 dedicated to guarding strongrooms and counting centers. Subsequently, an additional 70 CAPF companies will be dispersed across Odisha to ensure the maintenance of public order in the aftermath of the elections, reflecting a steadfast commitment to a smooth and peaceful transition beyond the ballot box.
