EC did not release controversial video: CEO

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena has disclosed that eight police teams, comprising Superintendents of Police (SP) and Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP), are actively pursuing the arrest of YSRCP Macherla MLA candidate and incumbent MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy. This development comes in the wake of a video surfacing depicting Reddy purportedly vandalising an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at the Palvai Gate polling station.
Meena clarified that while the video footage did not officially leave the custody of the Election Commission (EC), it may have been leaked during the investigative process. Furthermore, the Presiding Officer (PO) and Assistant Presiding Officer (APO) on duty were suspended for failing to furnish accurate information regarding the EVM damage incident.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Meena underscored the EC’s commitment to expeditiously apprehending Ramakrishna Reddy. He cautioned leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) against visiting injured activists in the Macherla constituency, urging them to refrain from exacerbating tensions as the situation gradually stabilises. Meena also announced plans for a state visit on May 25 to personally inspect the strong rooms where EVMs are securely stored.
Meena assured the public of a robust three-tier security arrangement, involving both Central and State police forces, in place at the strong rooms. Continuous monitoring of CCTV cameras covering the sealed doors, security corridors, and the control room is being carried out by officers. He emphasized the necessity for round-the-clock vigilance by police personnel for effective security monitoring. In a comprehensive review meeting with all District Election Officers on Thursday, Meena instructed them to enforce stringent measures for the vote-counting process scheduled for June 4.
He stressed the imperative of meticulous preparations to ensure swift and accurate result declarations. A video conference with election officials across all districts focused on counting arrangements, emphasizing the need for fortified security at counting centres and transparent communication regarding the allocation of counting tables and rounds.
Meena underscored the establishment of dedicated media centres at counting sites and the importance of disseminating counting-related information to candidates and agents well in advance. He also outlined the significance of organizing separate routes for EVM movement from strong rooms, as well as distinct pathways for candidates and agents, complete with barricades and signage.
With regard to the vote counting procedure, Meena specified the requirement for separate tables designated for Assembly and Parliament votes based on the number of polling stations. He directed that the counting of postal ballots commence concurrently with EVM counting, with results promptly uploaded to the EC’s Encore web application. Unauthorized individuals and those lacking identity cards will be strictly prohibited from entering the counting centres. Meena affirmed that the three-tier security protocol will remain in effect in the strongrooms until the conclusion of the counting process.
Additional CEOs P Koteswara Rao and MN Harendhira Prasad, along with election officers from all districts, participated in the video conference from their respective locales.