Vote counting for the Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election commenced at 8 AM on Friday at the Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy Stadium. A total of 42 counting tables have been arranged for the process. Officials first completed the counting of postal ballots, in which the Congress emerged ahead. The counting of EVM votes has since begun, with the Shaikpet division being taken up first.
Election authorities estimate that the initial trends will be available by around 10 AM, while the final results are expected between 1 PM and 2 PM. Most exit polls have indicated a slight edge for the Congress, predicting a closely fought contest between the Congress and the BRS. Surveys suggest the margin of victory could be as narrow as 3% to 8%, while the BJP is projected to finish in third place.
The by-election, necessitated by the death of sitting MLA Maganti Gopinath, has drawn considerable public and political attention. With the Congress gaining an early lead through postal ballots, parties and observers are closely monitoring the EVM trends as counting progresses across all divisions.