MARGAO
Counting of votes of the Margao Municipal Council election will be taken up on Monday in a staggered manner and by maintaining distancing norms.
While the counting process is set to start exactly at 8 am on Monday, the process is expected to continue till the evening as the authorities have decided to take up the counting of ballots with staggered timings.
While counting of votes of the first four wards of the MMC will be taken up at 8 am, the last five wards, 21 to 25, will be taken up at 4 pm as per the staggered time schedule.
The counting hall has been put in place near the canteen side of the South Goa District Collectorate, with adequate Covid safety norms, including transparent plastic sheet, separating the counting officials and the candidate’s agents.
As per the instructions issued by the Returning Officer Jyoti Kumari on Sunday, only candidates/election agents/counting agents of the wards being counted will be allowed inside the counting centres.
The Returning officer has advised the candidates and their agents to arrive at the counting hall according to the time of counting area of their wards.
The candidates have been directed to refrain from taking out victory processions in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and in compliance with section 144 of Cr PC imposed by the order of the District Collector.
The Returning Officer has made it clear there should not be any gathering of five or more persons outside the counting venue.
The candidates have been warned that violation of the instruction will make them liable for action under section 188 of the IPC and under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
