Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota on May 1 chaired a high-level video conference with senior administrative and police officials to review preparedness for vote counting scheduled for May 4. He underlined strict compliance with Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines and took a zero-tolerance stance on any lapses that could affect the integrity of the process.
The meeting, held jointly with the Director General of Police and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), was attended by all District Commissioners, Senior Superintendents of Police and commanding officers of battalions across the state. Discussions concentrated on counting-day arrangements, security at strong rooms and steps to maintain law and order during the sensitive post-poll period.
Kota reiterated that the ECI’s instructions “must be followed in letter and spirit,” and directed every district to ensure foolproof security and continuous surveillance of strong rooms where electronic voting machines (EVMs) are stored. He stressed that uninterrupted monitoring and strict access controls are essential to preserving voter confidence.
Emphasizing adherence to counting procedures, the Chief Secretary issued post-poll directives including mandatory visits by senior officials to strong rooms and counting centres, deployment of adequate police and paramilitary forces, and measures to guarantee the timely arrival of security personnel. The aim, he said, is a transparent and incident-free counting process.
Kota also called for stringent enforcement of security protocols on counting day, including the declaration of a dry day across districts. To pre-empt tensions, he directed authorities to regulate or restrict victory processions and put robust arrangements in place to curb any post-poll violence.
Officials were instructed to closely monitor pending court cases and electoral offence cases to prevent escalation during the counting period. Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to stability, Kota urged coordinated action by all officers to ensure peaceful, orderly and transparent counting and a stable post-election environment across Assam.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assam-tightens-security-ahead-of-vote-counting-cs-ravi-kota-warns-of-zero-tolerance-for-lapses-1384637-2026-05-01?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-05-01 22:20:00
