Counting of votes today: Candidates, parties on the edge

Karimnagar: The unique judgement given by Karimnagar voters in the recently held elections for Assembly, Council and Parliament has made the contestants and political parties, contested in Parishad elections, nervous about the results, which will be out on Tuesday (June 4).

Apart from this, there is another problem in front of the political parties as the elections for Mandal Parishad presidents and Zilla Parishad presidents will be held on June 7 and 8 respectively along with the elections of vice-presidents and co-option members. The major political parties – the ruling TRS, Congress and BJP - are trying to use all their political strategies to grab maximum number of seats and to prove their stronghold at Parishad-level.

It should be noted here that the counting of votes of ZPTC and MPTC elections was earlier scheduled to be held on May 27. But, due to the objections raised by Opposition parties, The State Election Commission (SEC) had issued an ordinance to conduct the counting of votes of Parishad elections on June 4.

The Opposition parties also requested the SEC to conduct the president, vice-president and co-option members' elections as soon as the results of Parishad elections are announced.

So, instead of conducting the elections for president, vice-president and co-option members in the first meeting of Parishad body, the Elections Commission decided to conduct a special meeting to complete the process.

Hence, even though there is time for Parishad body up to July 4, due to the new ordinance issued, the elections for president, vice-president and co-option members will be held through a special meeting conducted on June 7 and 8.

Along with Karimnagar district, new zilla parishads will be formed in newly formed districts of Peddapalli, Rajanna Sircilla and Jagtial districts. After the announcement of Parishad results, only three or four days are left for electing the president, vice-president and co-option members for parishad bodies.

Hence all the political parties already busy in conducting camps for grabbing maximum number of ZPTC and MPTC seats.

As the ruling TRS had won maximum number of Assembly constituencies in the undivided Karimnagar district, i.e., 12 out of 13, it is determined to continue its winning streak and is leaving no stone unturned to grab all ZPs and MPPs.

Meanwhile, the Congress, which won MLC elections defeating the ruling TRS candidates, entered Parishad elections fray with full confidence and ready to grab maximum ZPs and MPPs seats.

Whereas, the BJP that gained momentum in the recent times fielded its candidates in Parishad elections to give a tough fight to both the ruling TRS and Congress. The party is confident of playing king maker role once the results are announced. Both Congress and BJP also conducting special camps to rest the ruling TRS and teach a fitting lesson.

Meanwhile, the district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the counting of votes of ZPTC and MPTC elections to be held on June 4 at the counting centre set up at Jyothismathi Engineering College in Karimnagar Rural mandal.

District Collector and Election Officer Sarfaraz Ahmed conducted a review meeting with mandal special officers and MPDOs and directed them about the steps to be taken on the day of counting to conduct the process transparently without giving any chances to conspiracy.