ZP polls: TDP leads by a whisker in Seemandhra

Hyderabad, May 13 (INN): A day after TDP put up a stellar performance in the municipal elections in Seemandhra, it was locked in a close fight with YSR Congress (YSRC) in Zilla Parishad elections in the region while the Congress and the TRS were running neck and neck in Telangana region to share honours.

In less than 24 hours, the trends available from the two regions suggest that it would be a photo-finish for the major parties in the Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency elections. Counting of the ballot papers were taken up across the State on Tuesday.

The final results are expected late in the night for the 16,214 MPTCs and 1,093 ZPTCs in the State. The elections were held to the MPTCs and ZPTCs in two phases on April 6 and 11.

Till last reports, the TDP was leading in Seemandhra with 1,161 MPTC seat with the YSR Congress putting up an impressive show by coming close with 1,015 seats.

Beleaguered Congress continued to face rout with its candidates winning 29 MPTC seats so far. In several Seemandhra districts, it was see-saw battle between the TDP and the YSR Congress candidates. The party's fortunes swung from one end to the other as the number of winning seats continued to shuttle between the two parties.

In Seemandhra while TDP is leading in north Coastal Andhra, East and West Godavari and Krishna districts, YSR Congress is doing better in Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool. In Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore, it is turning out to be a close fight.

In Telangana, TRS made a comeback after almost being routed in the municipal polls. Congress party, which won honours in the municipal polls after trailing behind the TRS in several districts till this noon, snatched the lead. Latest tally said that Congress won in 545 MPTCs followed by TRS in 487 and the TDP in 287.

In Telangana, TDP is leading in Khammam, TRS is dominating in north Telangana districts. In ZPTCS, Congress and TDP bagged one each while the TRS bagged one ZPTC seat in Karimnagar district.

Meanwhile State Election Commissioner P.Ramakanth Reddy, reacting to damaged ballot boxes due to rains in East Godavari and termite attack in other areas in Nellore, he said if it was not possible to take up counting, then re-poll would be held on May 18.

Experts would be sent to those areas to examine the ballot boxes and a decision would be taken by Tuesday evening or Wednesday. SEC officials said in some cases even few votes could make a difference to the election outcome, then repoll would have to be held.