Graduates MLC Elections: Counting of votes begins

In the case of Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar MLC constituency, counting officials were still bundling ballot papers and counting was likely to commence around midnight

Nalgonda: The first round of counting of votes of Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda graduates MLC constituency began at the State Warehouse Corporation at 5.30 am here on Wednesday. In the case of Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar MLC constituency, counting officials were still bundling ballot papers and counting was likely to commence around midnight.

The bundling of ballot papers, which started at 8 am, was completed by the counting staff at 5.20 pm. The counting of votes was taken up at 56 tables with 56,000 ballot papers to be taken up in each round. After opening the ballot boxes in the presence of representatives of candidates, the counting staff made bundles of 25 ballot votes for the convenience of counting. In all, a total of 3,86,320 votes were polled during the election. Of the total 1,917 postal ballots, 1,838 were found valid and 79 votes were found invalid.

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Speaking to the media, Returning Officer and Nalgonda District Collector Prashant Jeevan Patil said there might be delay in the counting of votes as 71 candidates contested in the election and the size of ballot papers was almost the size of a newspaper page.  After arriving at the total valid votes, a clear picture would emerge on the number of votes required to win with first priority votes. The counting of first priority votes may be completed by 6 am on Thursday. In all, 4,000 employees have been deputed for counting of votes, he added.

Tension prevails at counting centre

Meanwhile, tension prevailed at the counting centre of when representatives of opposition staged a protest claiming that 31 votes went missing from a ballot box from a polling station. They alleged that as per records, 603 votes were polled at polling station no. 175 of Garla of Badadri-Kothagudem district, but when the ballot box was opened, only 144 ballot papers were found. They urged the Election Commission to inquire into the matter.

Police swung into action and dispered the protestors.

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