Use of 2 EVMs: Counting to be delayed in Ongole
Counting of votes for the Ongole Assembly and the Kandukur segment of the Nellore Parliament constituency byelection polls will be held at the Ongole Municipal Corporation office on June 15.
The Ongole Assembly constituency byelection counting will be delayed as two EVMs have to be counted due to the high number of contestants, 23 in all.
Returning officer M.S. Murali said that 14 tables were placed to count votes in 239 polling booths in 18 rounds. Similarly, another 14 tables were placed to count votes of 201 polling booths in the Kandukur segment of the Nellore Parliament byelection.
Prakasam superintendent of police K. Raghuram Reddy said restrictions under Section 144 were imposed on the municipal corporation office limits and its adjacent areas. He added that traffic will be not allowed on Church Centre Road, municipal office road and Devudu Cheruvu roads due to counting, and people will be allowed only through the Ambedkar statue and Yenuguchettu roads.
Prakasam Collector Anita Rajendra said that counting will start at 8 am with the counting of postal ballots. She assured continuous power for counting and generators for emergencies.
She added that no one will be allowed with cellphones and vehicles cannot enter the counting centre. The Congress, Telugu Desam and YSR Congress have appointed their agents for counting. People are betting money and other valuables over the results.
