AMARAVATI: Counting of votes in the Andhra Pradesh municipal elections, which have generated intense interest across the state, begins at 8 am today (Tuesday). Results for the 92 urban local bodies that went to the polls are expected by around 8 pm. The State Election Commission (SEC) has readied 138 counting centres for the exercise.
Polling was held on November 1 for a total of 3,186 wards across 13 municipal corporations, and 79 municipalities and nagar panchayats. Of these, 804 wards are in the corporations and 2,382 in the municipalities and nagar panchayats. Of 96,89,061 registered voters, 60,22,411 (62.16 percent) cast their votes.
Arrangements for Counting
The SEC has set up 556 counting halls and 6,831 tables, and deployed 47,817 personnel. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, the largest of the lot, will have counting at 10 centres. To prevent any untoward incidents, 1,372 CCTV cameras have been installed at strong rooms and counting centres, and the entire process is being videographed. Postal ballots will be counted first, followed by ballot papers, which will be bundled in lots of 25.
High Court Clears Pulivendula Count
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has cleared the way for counting of votes in the Pulivendula municipal elections. The court dismissed petitions filed by YSRCP chairperson candidate YS Prameela and YSRCP MP Avinash Reddy seeking a halt to counting. The petitioners had demanded repolling in all remaining wards of the Pulivendula municipality, in addition to the four wards where the SEC had already ordered a repoll, and wanted counting suspended until then. Arguments concluded in the High Court on Monday, and the court delivered its verdict at 7.30 am on Tuesday.
A Close Contest
The elections have seen a keen fight between the ruling TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance and the opposition YSR Congress Party. Interest in the outcome is heightened because, under the new amendments to the law, mayors and chairpersons are being elected directly. A total of 520 candidates are in the fray for mayor and chairperson posts, and more than 10,000 for ward and division seats. Repolling was held in some places following complaints.
State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha said all arrangements have been made to ensure the counting is peaceful and transparent. Returning officers will declare results as soon as counting is completed