Telangana Gears Up for Lok Sabha Vote Counting with Tight Security Measures

As the countdown begins for the announcement of Lok Sabha poll results, preparations are in full swing for the vote counting across 17 parliamentary constituencies in Telangana on June 4. The entire counting process is expected to be completed by 3 pm.

Polling in Telangana took place on May 13, during the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which included the by-election for the Secunderabad Cantonment Assembly constituency.

During a press conference on Saturday, Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vikas detailed the extensive arrangements. Section 144 has been imposed, and 34 counting centers across the state are equipped with CCTV cameras for continuous surveillance. Unauthorized individuals are prohibited within 100 meters of the vote-counting halls.

The counting of postal ballots will commence at 8 am, followed by the counting of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes starting at 8:30 am. Results are expected to start coming in as each round concludes.

Approximately 2.17 lakh postal ballots will be counted by about 1,600-1,700 dedicated staff in separate counting halls in each parliamentary constituency. Additional counting halls have been set up for Chevella and Malkajgiri constituencies due to their higher number of postal ballots.

“For EVM votes, the maximum number of rounds will be 24 in Choppadandi, Yakutpura, and Devarakonda Assembly segments. The fewest rounds, 13, will take place in Armoor, Bhadrachalam, and Aswaraopet constituencies. Final results are expected by 3 pm,” the CEO stated.

Following the initial count, VVPATs from five randomly selected polling stations in each Assembly segment will be counted. Around 10,000 staff, along with 49 observers and 2,440 micro observers, will be involved in the counting process across Telangana.

A three-tier security arrangement, including approximately 12 companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) and the State police, has been implemented at the counting centers. Agents must arrive by 7 am on June 4 and are prohibited from carrying electronic devices like cell phones inside the counting halls. Political parties must submit their list of counting agents by 3 pm on Saturday.

Vikas Raj noted that after the counting is complete, EVMs will be stored for 45 days. Liquor shops will be closed on the counting day, and rallies will be prohibited, though police have the authority to make final decisions on rallies based on local conditions.

Additionally, the CEO mentioned that vote counting for the Mahabubnagar Local Bodies constituency by-election will occur on Sunday, and the count for the Nalgonda-Khammam-Warangal Graduates constituency by-poll will take place on June 5.