Presidential poll: Ballot boxes from states fly to Delhi 'as passengers'

Ballot boxes containing the votes cast in the Presidential election got ‘special privilege’ on their flights back to New Delhi on Monday.

As per the directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), officials responsible for the conduct of the poll booked a separate seat ‘as a passenger’ for the ballot boxes on their flights from state capitals to New Delhi.

The box is placed on a seat in the aircraft and does not go in the cargo hold - for reasons of safety and security and to prevent any kind of tampering.

While Karnataka Assembly secretariat officials booked a seat for the ballot box in the name of  ‘Cabin Baggage,’ Maharashtra officials booked the seat in the name of ‘Mr Ballot Box’.

Three officials from Karnataka — Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) for the Presidential poll in Karnataka, S Murthy, Assembly Deputy Secretary M S Kumaraswamy and Under Secretary B S Mahalingesh — boarded the 9.10 pm Air India flight to New Delhi with the ballot box.

Further, the sources said, the box will have to be kept on the seat next to the ARO, who is responsible for its safekeeping. It is mandatory that front row seats are booked.

As far as Maharashtra is concerned, the box will be carried by Dr Anant Kalse, Principal Secretary of Legislature and Assistant Returning Officer, R J Kudtarkar, Deputy Secretary and Assistant Returning Officer,  M M Kaj, Joint Secretary (II).

In an intimation letter to Anoop Mishra, Returning Officer for election to the office of the President of India-2017 and Secretary-General, Lok Sabha, Parliament House, the Maharashtra Government had intimated: “...The tickets of J-Class of the above-mentioned officers and of the Ballot Box from Mumbai to New Delhi have been purchased for the onward journey.”

The officials have to personally hand over the boxes to Mishra at Parliament House in New Delhi. Arrangements are made by Parliament security and the Delhi police to drive straight to the aircraft and accompany the officials and the box to Parliament House, the sources added.

The votes will counted on Thursday.