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| Darjeeling Gorkha Rangamanch Bhawan new votes counting venue – Election commission |
Usually it used to be in North Point ground, but this year onwards, school’s authorities have denied its permission. Later, district administration had decided to make the counting venue in Siliguri, However, it was decided back to Darjeeling following the intense protest from the political parties in the hills.
Timesofindia: The district administration on Saturday reversed its earlier stand and has decided to hold the counting of votes for the 2014 Lok Sabha election at the Gorkha Ranga Manch Bhawan in Darjeeling.
Authorities of St Joseph’s School near Singamari in Darjeeling had refused to lend its premises to the administration to conduct the counting. The school in 2010 had approached the HC to seek restriction of use of its premises, which was upheld.
The returning officer had recommended and proposed to the ECI to shift the counting venue to the plains of Siliguri, with no other alternative available in the Hills. However, this decision was opposed and resented by various regional political parties of the Hills with some of them even approaching the ECI.
On Saturday evening, the district administration held a press conference in Darjeeling and announced its revised decision to shift the venue. “The issue of change of venue that was opposed by various parties has been resolved. We have sent a proposal to the ECI requesting bringing back the counting venue to Darjeeling,” said Puneet Yadav, Darjeeling DM and returning officer.
