Tirupati, Madanapalle results may be out first

Tirupati: While the arrangements for counting of votes in the general elections were in full swing, the Election Commission of India gave its nod to increase the counting tables as requested by District Election Officer PS Pradyumna.

Normally, 14 tables will be arranged for the counting of each constituency votes. Accordingly, 196 tables each for Assembly and Parliamentary votes counting are to be laid. In view of more number of polling stations in some constituencies, the District Election Officer requested the EC to allow them to lay more tables where the hall space is available. Considering the request, the EC has agreed to increase the number of tables to 228 for Assembly votes counting and 222 for Parliamentary votes.

With this, number of tables for Piler, Srikalahasti, Puthalapattu and Palamaner will be increased to 16 whereas for Madanapalle, Punganur, Chandragiri and Tirupati will have 20 tables each. As a result, Madanapalle (259 polling stations) and Tirupati (261 polling stations) will require 13 rounds to complete the process and these two results are expected to come out first.

However, for Tirupati Parliamentary seat, 14 tables will be there and it takes 19 rounds to complete the counting. Punganur result may come after Tirupati and Madanapalle as it will have 14 rounds followed by Chittoor 16 rounds, Chandragiri 17 rounds, Srikalahasti and Puthalapattu 18 rounds each and Palamaner, Kuppam, GD Nellore, Thamballapalle and Piler will have 19 rounds each.

Satyavedu result is expected to be announced last as it takes 20 rounds to complete the process. A total of 3,800 polling stations were set up in the district for polling and 11,200 EVMs were used. For each constituency, a separate hall was allotted for counting.

Counting of votes will be held at SITAMS and SV College of Engineering and Technology in Chittoor. While the counting of seven Assembly segments of Chittoor Parliamentary constituency will be held at SITAMS, counting of four Assembly segments of Rajampet and three segments from Tirupati Parliamentary constituency will take place at SVCET.

Tirupati Parliamentary election result will be announced in Nellore and the results of three segments will be sent from the district to there. Similarly, the result of Rajampet Parliamentary seat will be declared in Chittoor after they receive the results of three segments from Kadapa.

Counting agents will be allowed into their respective areas by 6 am on May 23 and will be provided with breakfast. They will be later allowed to enter the respective halls by 7 am. Counting officials will also reach their respective tables.

Strongrooms will be opened in the presence of candidates, general agents and observers at 7.30 am. By 8 am, counting process will begin and postal ballots and service votes will be counted first followed by counting of votes in EVMs at 8.30 am.

It is estimated that each round of counting will take about 30 minutes. With the approval of returning officers and election observers, each round results will be released to media at the media centre after they are uploaded in Suvidha App.

Police have been making elaborate security arrangements at the two counting centres to prevent untoward incidents from taking place. About 2,000 police personnel are drafted for duties on May 23.