Telangana: Staffers stand through 90 hours of counting

HYDERABAD: In the longest counting process till date in Telangana and united AP, lasting 90 hours, the counting staffers deployed by district election authorities and the agents deployed by political parties stood out as the unsung heroes.
The counting process for the biennial elections to the legislative council from Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahbubnagar graduates constituency started on March 17 and concluded on March 20.
Most counting staffers and counting agents (political parties) were on their feet throughout the process as they wouldn’t be able to see the ballot papers if the sat down. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) commissioner DS Lokesh Kumar was constantly monitoring the process inside Saroornagar Indoor Stadium (counting centre) .
Though staffers were deployed in shifts, they spent extra hours in Saroornagar Indoor Stadium when required.
“Our eyes are burning, legs are paining but our party’s victory had healed everything in minutes,” said Palugucheruvu Mahesh, TRS general secretary, Rajendra Nagar division, who was appointed as counting agent. He was accompanied by agent P Shiva Mudiraj TRS former division president.