WHAT IS THE STRONG ROOM THAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT GUARDING?

WHAT IS THE STRONG ROOM THAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT GUARDING?

14-NOV-ENG 14

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------Before EVMs, there used to be ballot boxes. After voting, people would drop slips into the box. After voting, the presiding officer, or the head of the polling party, would bring the ballot box, now the EVM, along with security personnel and deposit it in the strong room.

The strong room is called Vajra Griha in Hindi. Vajra Griha is the place where counting takes place. Votes from two or three or more assembly constituencies are counted at one place. In such cases, the EVMs for that constituency are kept in one room. Separate rooms are designated for different constituencies. This room is then double-sealed on the night of voting. The room is then opened only in the presence of the returning officer on the morning of counting.

Political parties became active in protecting the strong room since 1996. It happened that in 1995, Lalu Yadav had said in a rally before the elections that a genie would emerge from the box. The election was tight, and it seemed Lalu would lose. But the result was the opposite. Lalu won, an unexpected victory. Then the opposition accused the government of changing the boxes. CCTV was not available at that time. It was alleged that, with the help of the administration, the seals of the strong room were broken and the boxes were changed in Lalu Yadav's favor. However, this allegation is not confirmed anywhere. However, from the following year, i.e., 1996, the Election Commission allowed major political parties to appoint their own security agents to monitor the strong room. Permission was granted for a maximum of two agents per assembly constituency. In the 1996 elections, the Samata Party and the BJP appointed their own agents outside the strong room. They stand guard until the night before the counting begins. They monitor for unauthorized movement. They have the right to ask questions. Other security personnel are also deployed.

A large hall is converted into a counting room for the counting. On the morning of the counting, the security agent's pass becomes invalid. A new counting agent pass is issued to participate in the counting. CCTV cameras are now installed outside the Vajra Griha. CCTV surveillance is provided. No one can enter the counting area without a pass, including the cleaning staff.