Counting of votes for two MLC constituencies to be held today

Elaborate arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of counting of votes for the two graduate MLC constituencies at LB Nagar indoor stadium here and in Telangana State Warehousing Corporation warehouse at Arjalabavi on the outskirts of Nalgonda on Wednesday.

The counting of votes will begin at 8 am. While Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda graduates constituency polled 3,86,320 votes, the Mahbubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad graduates’ constituency polled 3,57,354 votes.

The entire process would be a lengthy affair since each jumbo ballot box contains 500 to 800 votes. Officials prepared a duty roster to enable the staff work in shifts and the final results can be expected only around Friday morning. “We have taken necessary steps to ensure that the counting continues without any problem. We have also taken various steps for the convenience of the staff on counting duty,” an official said.

He said the staff should be alert as the counting might continue till Friday. Officials also explained to the candidates and their agents the procedure to be adopted for counting of votes.

The strong rooms, where ballot boxes of 799 polling stations from erstwhile Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Mahbubnagar districts, were preserved, will be opened in the presence of the candidates and their polling agents at 7 am. The candidates should be present at the



counting centre by 6.30 am.

Meanwhile, the jumbo ballot boxes, which were brought from erstwhile Nalgonda, Warangal and Khammam districts, were kept in strong rooms in the warehousing corporation godown at Arjalabavi.

As many as 3,600 polling staff would be deputed for counting of votes. Nalgonda Superintendent of Police AV Ranganath, who reviewed the security arrangements at the counting centre, said a three layer security was in place to carry out the process in a smooth manner.

About 75 surveillance cameras were set up at the godown. Only those with valid pass issued by officials concerned will be allowed into the counting centre.

About 1,200 police personnel have been deployed for bandobast to facilitate smooth counting of votes in Rachakonda limits.

Officials said three-level security arrangements were made at the Saroornagar indoor stadium, where the counting will take place. Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat visited the counting centre and reviewed arrangements.

“Elaborate arrangements have been made for the counting with nearly 1,200 police force on the ground to take care of law and order and arrangements. There is a prohibition on the unlawful assembly of persons across the police commissionerate area,” said an official.