Thanjavur: The counting of votes for the Thanjavur Assembly constituency is slated to be taken up at Kundavai Nachiar Government Arts College For Women in Thanjavur amid tight security on November 22.

Briefing the Covai Post on the arrangements made by the district administration for the smooth conduct of counting of votes, revenue divisional officer (RDO) C Suresh, who is also the returning officer, claimed that adequate security arrangements have been made at the counting centre.

Three tier-security has been provided to the counting centre and all the persons entering the counting centre, including the candidates and their agents would be subjected to security checks, the RDO said.

All candidates and their agents will be required to carry the photo identity cards issued to them; mobile phones or match-boxes are not allowed inside the counting centre.

The counting of votes, comprising 20 rounds, will go on 14 tables in each Assembly segment. About 100 personnel will be involved in the counting. The entire process will be webcast, enabling election officials to witness the process live through the internet. Besides, the counting will also be videographed. Each table will comprise a supervisor, a counting assistant and a micro-observer, Suresh said.

The EVMs would be opened at 8 am. Counting supervisors, assistants and micro-observers, persons authorised by the Election Commission, officials connected with the election and candidates and their agents alone would be allowed to enter the counting centre. Others, including media, will be barred from entering the counting center, he said.

About 69.41 per cent of polling was recorded in Thanjavur yesterday. Though there were 14 candidates in the fray, it was set to be a straight fight is between AIADMK candidate M Rangasamy, who is also the sitting MLA, and DMK candidate Dr Anjugam Boopathy. Besides the eight candidates of recognised and registered political parties, six independents are also in the fray.