All eyes are on the election results that will be declared tomorrow. For those unaware, the election results of five states will be announced today. These states include Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. There are various poll results floating around that are claiming that there will be a close clash in Goa. The results will be revealed in a few hours from now.
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However, ahead of the poll results, Punjab has decided to impose section 144. This has been done as a precautionary measure to avoid people crowding outside counting centres. As per S Karuna Raju, who is Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab announced that CrPC section 144 has been imposed in all districts. He further mentioned that all precautionary measures have been taken to ensure that the law and order prevails in the state.
While speaking to the members of the press, Raju also mentioned that the counting of votes will begin at 117 centres from 8 am. For this process, the centres have been set up in 66 places. It was also revealed that 7,500 personnel from 45 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will be deployed at the counting centres.
The 100 meter radius around the counting centre has been declared as a “pedestrian zone” and citizens will not be permitted to drive in this zone. In this zone, police and senior magistrates will be stationed and their task would be to control the crowd.
The Election Commission has mandated that in every counting centre a maximum of 14 counting tables can be set up. For counting of the ETPB (Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System), separate tables will have to be set up. These have been issued to service voters and officers or staff members that were engaged in election duty.
As is the norm no electronic device including mobile will be permitted inside the counting centre. March 10 has also been declared a dry day in Punjab. In addition to this, there are news reports suggesting that the sweet shops have bagged large orders for laddus from various political parties. It is customary for political parties to distribute laddus after winning a seat.
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Some of the exit polls are suggesting that it will be a thumping victory for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab. They further go on to predict that Congress, which had managed to sweep the election in 2017 will have to eat a humble pie. The BJP-Akali Dal alliance too has not been able to make its mark with the votes in Punjab as per the exit polls.
