The political landscape of Arunachal Pradesh is set to experience a seismic shift on Sunday as the votes cast for 50 assembly seats are finally tallied. The Election Commission officials have confirmed that the fate of 133 candidates, whose political careers hinge on the results sealed within the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), will be revealed. This highly anticipated event follows the assembly elections held on April 19, which saw voters turning out in high numbers.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the state’s ruling party, has already secured an impressive victory by winning 10 seats unopposed in the 60-member assembly. This early win places them in a strong position as they look to build upon their dominant performance from the 2019 elections, where they secured 41 out of the 60 seats.
State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pawan Kumar Sain has announced that the critical counting of votes will commence at 6 am on Sunday, under stringent security measures. The final results of this hotly contested election are expected to be available by noon.
“In preparation for this crucial day, we’ve ensured all necessary measures are in place, including an extensive three-tier security arrangement at all counting centers. We’ve also completed the essential final round of training for the officials who will oversee the counting,” stated Sain, emphasizing the exhaustive steps taken to ensure a smooth process.
The simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha elections held on April 19 witnessed an impressive voter turnout. An estimated 82.71 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the assembly polls, while a slightly lower, yet substantial, 77.51 percent turnout was recorded for the state’s two Lok Sabha seats.
The counting process will be expansive, with 24 centers across the state designated for the assembly seats and an additional 25 centers catered specifically for the Lok Sabha elections due on June 4. Approximately 2,000 election officials will be engaged in this significant democratic exercise.
Sain further conveyed, “Media centers are being established in all our counting centers. They will play a pivotal role in delivering real-time updates as each vote is counted.
.” This move is likely to facilitate continuous information flow to the public, adding to the transparency of the election process.
Addressing the stringent security measures, Sain indicated that coordination meetings with high-ranking officials, including the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, were conducted to meticulously review the law and order conditions. The district electoral officers (DEOs) and superintendents of police (SPs) have been instructed to carry out their duties with diligence to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the vote counting.
“Ensuring the presence of counting agents from various political parties sans mobile phones is one of the protocols we have established to maintain fairness and order within the counting centers,” Sain added.
The parliamentary elections in Arunachal Pradesh, albeit less discussed, also carry substantial weight. Fourteen candidates contested for the two Lok Sabha seats in the state. The Arunachal West parliamentary seat saw a fierce competition among eight candidates, including prominent figures like Union minister Kiren Rijiju and state Congress president Nabam Tuki. In the Arunachal East Lok Sabha seat, six candidates vied for victory, among them, sitting BJP MP Tapir Gao and state Congress vice-president Bosiram Siram.
Recalling the 2019 elections, the BJP emerged triumphantly, clinching both Lok Sabha seats along with a remarkable 41 assembly seats. In contrast, the JD (U) captured seven assembly seats, the National People’s Party (NPP) secured five, Congress gained four, and the PPA clinched one seat. There were also significant wins for two independent candidates who managed to secure assembly seats.
The unfolding of these election results is keenly awaited not only by the candidates and political parties involved but also by the populace of Arunachal Pradesh who have actively participated in the democratic process. The outcome will undoubtedly shape the political trajectory of the state in the coming years.
To witness this landmark event, people can tune in to various news platforms that will live-stream the results. Websites such as DNA India will provide comprehensive coverage including live updates, ensuring that no one misses any critical developments as they occur.
As the clock ticks down to the final count, all eyes will be on Arunachal Pradesh, where every vote will play a crucial role in determining the future administration and the realization of the promises made during the fierce campaigning season.
