Counting gains pace across Telangana ULBs, voters attach appeals to ballot in Suryapet

Counting of votes in municipal polls gathered momentum on Friday, with results declared in 448 of the 2,996 wards. Congress led the tally. In a rare incident, voters in Suryapet attached appeal slips with ballots, surprising officials.

Hyderabad: Counting of votes in several municipalities and municipal corporations gathered momentum on Friday, with results declared in a few Urban Local Bodies.

Of the 2,996 wards where elections were held, results had been declared in 448 wards till 11.30 a.m. The Congress won 240 wards, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi secured 140 and the Bharatiya Janata Party 37. Independents emerged victorious in 14 wards, while candidates were elected unanimously in 12 wards.

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In an interesting development, voters in Ward 48 of Suryapet municipality took election officials and candidates by surprise. Along with their ballot papers, voters attached slips containing written appeals and dropped them into the ballot box, reports said.

The voters appealed to the government to offer compensation to landowners losing their lands for national highway works. Officials continued counting the votes and bundled the slips separately, reports added.