The authorities stopped ZPTC and MPTC counting in 5 polling stations at three villages in Kondapuram mandal in Kavali revenue division here following complaints that the ballot papers were eaten by moths.
The agents of contesting candidates refused to accept the damaged ballot papers and they made a complaint to the polling officials. This has been taken to the notice of district Collector N. Srikanth.
The damage is reported in the ballot boxes of three polling stations spread over Pothipalli, Isukadamarla and Mannamvaripalli villages. The incident came to light at the counting centre located at the Jawahar Bharathi College in Kavali.
The counting was taken up on Tuesday for the 46 ZPTC and 543 MPTC seats present in the Nellore district.
As per the results announced for 246 MPTCs around 4 p.m., the YSR Congress Party won 120 followed by Telugu Desam Party with 94, Congress - eight, Left parties – four, and Independents – 6.
The announcements of final results of ZPTCs are expected to take a longer time with the authorities making arrangements for counting till late on Tuesday night.
The polling officials could not begin the counting process in time for some seats in Kodavaluru mandal.
The main contest is seen between the YSRC and the TDP, with the former enjoying considerable support in the rural areas. The Congress is pushed to a distant third position.
The YSRC leaders are pinning their hopes on the victory in the Zilla Parishad elections following the reverses they suffered in the municipal elections here.
