As the countdown began for the counting of votes for the assembly elections, candidates cutting across party lines are facing a peculiar problem of arranging food for their counting agents as they will not be allowed to come out of the counting centres till the counting is over.
Senior Congress leader Manas Bhunia, who had contested the poll from Sabang seat in West Midnapore district, told PTI earlier that counting agents could come out during the counting process to have their lunch or snacks.
"But this time Election Commission said once counting agents enter the counting hall in the early morning they can't come out untill the entire counting process is over," he said.
"Earlier, I had arranged lunch for my counting agents, but due to the new rule I have decided to provide them heavy breakfast," Bhunia said.
Echoing Bhunia, Trinamool Congress candidate from Rashbehari constituency in the metropolis Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay said, "I thought of ordering biryani for lunch and proper snacks in the morning. But in the changed situation I have decided to serve them some nutritious breakfast and offer them good lunch once they come out of the counting centers," he said.
Some CPI(M) candidates have decided to give a breakfast packet of bread toast, boiled egg, banana and a sweet.
"Tea and biscuit are allowed inside the counting centers. So we have decided to give our counting agents a proper breakfast so they don't have much of problem of staying there till the counting is finished," a CPI(M) candidate said.
