HYDERABAD: Massive security is in place in Dubbak as the bypoll outcome will be announced on Tuesday. All eyes are on the results of the keenly contested elections on November 3 and the counting will be taken up at 8 am.
Postal ballots will be counted first and half an hour later, votes in EVMs will be counted, election returning officer B Chennaiah said. District election officer and Siddipet district collector Bharati Hollikeri said 14 tables were arranged for the counting which will be taken up in 23 rounds. Polling staff will report at the counting centre by 5 am.
Police have made heavy bandobust arrangements at the ‘D block’ in Indur Engineering College in Siddipet where counting of votes will be taken up. Section 144 has been imposed within 500 metres of the counting centre and gathering of more than five persons is not allowed. Display of any flags or party material by supporters of the respective parties up to a distance of one kilometre from the counting centre is prohibited. The restrictions will be in force from 6 am on November 10 to 6 am on November 11.
Siddipet police commissioner Joel Davis said on Monday that there was no permission to take out rallies, processions or organise dharnas or rasta roko by anyone on counting day. “Those violating the orders will be booked under relevant sections of law,” he said. Police would be at the designated places by 4 am, he added.
While the ruling TRS is hoping to retain the seat which fell vacant following the death of its sitting legislator Solipeta Ramalinga Reddy, Congress and BJP are also optimistic about the outcome. Solipeta Sujatha, wife of Ramalinga Reddy, was fielded by the TRS while the BJP fielded M Raghunandan Rao and Congress nominated Cheruku Srinivas Reddy. While it was the third time that Raghunandan Rao has been in a poll fray, it was the first electoral battle for both Sujatha and Srinivas Reddy.
The poll outcome will, however, not have any bearing on the government as the TRS has 100 seats out of 119 in the assembly.
The turnout on November 3 was huge with 82% voters out of 1.98 lakh exercising their franchise.