TDP leads in AP; TRS, Cong in photo finish

• TDP betters YSRCP in both ZPTC, MPTC elections in Seemandhra
• TRS beats Cong in ZPTC segment, but trails in respect of MPTCs
• TRS performs exceptionally well in northern districts of Telangana
• TDP emerges number one in Khammam district
• YSRCP upbeat on rural votes, hopeful of forming govt in AP

Hyderabad: While the TDP continued to be on a winning spree in the ZPTC and MPTC elections in Seemandhra region, in Telangana, the Congress is lagging behind TRS in ZPTC elections, though it has put up an impressive performance in the MPTC elections. The counting of votes for the 1,093 ZPTC and the 16,214 MPTC seats in Seemandhra and the 441 ZPTC and the 6,480 MPTC seats in Telangana began at 8 am on Tuesday. It may continue beyond midnight.

When last reports came in, in Seemandhra TDP won in 4,585 MPTCs and 265 ZPTCs, while the YSRCP won in 3,675 MPTCs and 185 ZPTCs. TDP is said to be ahead of YSRCP in about nine out of 13 districts in Seemandhra. YSRCP zipped past TDP in Kurnool, Kadapa, Prakasam and Nellore districts, but it is lagging far behind in East and West Godavari districts.

The TDP has sprung a surprise for YSRCP in Narsannapeta in Srikakulam district where it emerged victorious. This is considered to be the stronghold of Dharmana Prasada Rao who recently joined YSRCP. Similarly in Cheepurupally constituency, which was represented by the former APCC president Botcha Satyanarayana, the TDP won the MPTC seats.

As far as Telangana is concerned, the Congress and the TRS are heading towards a photo finish in MPTC polls, while the pink party is ahead of the Congress in the ZPTC elections. The TRS has done exceptionally well in Northern districts of the region.

In Karimnagar and Adilabad districts, the Congress has been relegated to second position while in Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar and Ranga Reddy districts Congress is in number one position.

Till last reports came in, the Congress won 2,191 MPTC seats and 146 ZPTCs. The TRS had bagged 1815 MPTCs and 176 ZPTCs. In regard to ZPTC elections, TRS is ahead of Congress in Adilabad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad districts while the Congress had won more seats than the TRS in Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar districts. Out of a total 36 ZPTC seats in Nizamabad district, TRS bagged 24 seats, while Congress took the remaining 12 ZPTC seats. TDP and BJP drew a blank here. In Karimanagar district out of 57 ZPTC seats, TRS has won 41, Congress 14, TDP 1 and others 1. The TRS is set to win the ZPTC chairman post in Karimnagar.

The TDP has put up an impressive show in Khammam district by emerging at number one position. It had won 200 MPTCs while the Congress came second by winning 77 MPTCs. TDP also won MPTC seats in Gajwel from where TRS chief KCR contested for the Assembly. It has also bagged the Qutubullapur seat in Ranga Reddy district and Kodangal in Mahabubnagar district.

Interestingly, a good number of seats in Telangana have been won by rebels of various parties, who had contested as independents. It now remains to be seen as to whom these independents would support. Following the good performance in MPTC and ZPTC elections, the YSRCP exuded confidence that they would win a majority of the seats in the Assembly and the Lok Sabha elections and would come to power. On the other hand, TDP vice-president K Ramamohana Rao said that these results had proved that even the rural people were with TDP and the same speed of cycle will be witnessed in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections as well. Candidates for as many as 251 MPTC and 1 ZPTC have been unanimously elected in Seemandhra. Of this, 103 candidates had won on TDP ticket, 70 on YSRCP ticket, 4 candidates on Congress Party ticket, while Left parties have won 4 seats and others 70 seats.