Keen contest on cards as T Grads MLC vote counting begins

The all-important MLC graduate constituency polling results are expected later on Wednesday.

The counting of votes for the two graduate constituencies in Telangana region would be taken up from 8 am.
For the Hyderabad-Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy graduates constituency, the counting of votes would be taken up at the Victory Indoor Stadium in Isamiah Bazaar and for the Nalgonda-Warangal-Khammam, the counting centre has been set up at Nalgonda.
Though the results would not in anyway alter the political configuration in the Telangana legislative council, the elections are seen as important as the BJP is giving a tough fight to the ruling TRS and a BJP victory would indicate that the disenchantment of the educated class with the TRS is growing. The TRS has pulled all stops to ensure the victory of its candidates.
The votes are first prepared in bundles of 50s and then the first round of preferential votes are counted. If any candidate gets more than 50 per cent of votes, he would be declared elected in the first round itself. If no one secures 50 per cent, then second preference votes are counted. If no one secures 50 per cent even then, the elimination of the lowest polling candidates will be done and their votes would be added to the remaining candidates.
While the TDP backed BJP candidates N Ramacandra Rao and TRS candidate and T employees' leader Deviprasad are locked in a tough battle in the Hyderabad constituency, Rajeswar Reddy of the TRS and the Rammohan Rao of the BJP are battling it out in Nalgonda.
The results are expected by evening.