At least 2,800 people are working in shifts to count 3,36,013 votes at the counting centre in warehouse corporation’s godown at Melladuppalapally.
Ballot boxes were opened by the counting staff in the presence of candidates and their agents at 8 am. Counting was taken up on 96 tables in three halls and the total votes will be counted in four rounds with 96,000 votes each.
Sources said, Congress candidate Teenmaar Mallanna, also known as Chintapandu Naveen, is leading by 6,000 votes in the first round of counting of the first priority votes.
Superintendent of police Chandana Deepthi said 800 police personnel were deputed for security at the counting centre. Police would work in shifts and stay put there until completion of the exercise.
Apart from Mallanna, Rakesh Reddy of the BRS and Gujjula Premendar Reddy of the BJP are in the fray.
The by-election was caused when incumbent MLC Palla Rajeswar Reddy was elected to the Telangana Assembly from the Jangaon constituency.
Meanwhile, Mallanna exuded confidence that he would win the by-election with the first priority votes. He said trends in the counting centre indicated that his victory was sure.
District collector and returning officer Dasari Harichandana, who is at the counting centre, said the process of counting the ballot paper bundles was going on.
“We have set up 96 tables and counting of 48,000 votes in one round will be done at the rate of 500 per table. First preferential votes will be completed in seven rounds. If the result is not clear in the first preference, counting of the second preferential votes will be done in the same process,” the SP disclosed.