Tight police security across Rayalaseema for MPTC, ZPTC vote counting

Sri Sathya Sai district Superintendent of Police S. Satish Kumar addressing the media ahead of the MPTC and ZPTC vote counting in Puttaparthi on Friday.

The Police have stepped up security arrangements in Chittoor, Annamayya, Sri Sathya Sai, Kurnool, Anantapur and Nandyal districts ahead of MPTC and ZPTC vote counting scheduled for Saturday.

Counting will begin at 8 a.m. at designated centres. Authorities have kept ballot boxes transported from polling stations in strong rooms under security. Police have been deployed at counting centres, strong rooms and sensitive locations to prevent unauthorised entry and disturbances.

The security exercise follows 37 election-related incidents reported during polling on Thursday in 15 districts. Annamayya, Anantapur and Kurnool figured among the districts where incidents were reported.

In Chittoor district, police are maintaining a close watch on Kuppam and other politically sensitive mandals following the alleged assault on a TDP MPTC candidate at Nadamuru. In Annamayya, the incident at Lakkireddigaripalle in KV Palle mandal, where a group allegedly entered a polling station and threw a ballot box outside, has added to security concerns.

In Anantapur district, fresh polling for the MPTC and ZPTC was ordered at Marutla in Kuderu mandal and Chitrachedu in Peddavaduguru mandal. By 3.00 pm, the polling percentage remained below 50% amidst tight police bandobasth.

In Kurnool district, repolling was conducted at Arlabanda in Kosigi mandal. Police have been asked to maintain surveillance in these areas ahead of the counting of votes.

In the six districts, police are focusing on regulating access to counting centres, preventing gatherings by rival party supporters and monitoring movements in villages where candidates are involved in close contests. Senior officers are coordinating with election authorities on security and law-and-order arrangements.

“The police are on alert for possible confrontations following the announcement of results, particularly in divisions witnessing close contests,” Sri Sathya Sai district SP S. Satish Kumar said.