Counting of votes in the byelections held for 12 Assembly constituencies in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh has begun.
The counting, which began at 8 am, is being held at seven centres in five districts, where 12 seats are located.
The poll was held on July 27 with ballot papers for five seats as the number of candidates had exceeded the maximum limit of 64. With the existing technology, EVMs cannot be used if the number of candidates exceeds 64.
For the other seven seats where EVMs were used, the results would be out by afternoon.
Chief electoral officer I.V. Subba Rao said several restrictions are in place at counting centres.
“Mobile phones would not be allowed inside the counting halls. Only authorised persons would be allowed inside. We are taking several precautions,” he said.
Aiming at ensuring transparency in counting, the whole process will be video recorded, Mr Rao said.
State Congress president D. Srinivas and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s son K.T. Rama Rao are among the prominent candidates in the fray. While Mr Srinivas is contesting from Nizamabad Urban, Mr Rama Rao is seeking reelection from Sircilla in Karimnagar district.
The bypolls were necessitated as the sitting MLAs had quit their posts in support of a separate Telangana.