[private]HYDERABAD: On Friday morning the TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samiti) is leading in 11 constituencies and on the other hand BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) in one as the counting of votes in the by-election to 12 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh’s Telangana region began.

TRS has established lead in one constituency held by the TDP (Telugu Desam Party) while early trends show the two parties may retain their seats.

TRS candidates were leading over their nearest rivals in 11 constituencies at the end of the first round of counting. In Nizamabad Urban segment BJP’s Lakshminarayana was ahead of state Congress chief D. Srinivas.

The result of five constituencies where ballot papers were used may take some time while the results from seven constituencies, where EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) were used, are likely to be announced before noon.

The Election Commission said that in the elections held on Tuesday 66.67 percent of 23.60 lakh voters in the 12 constituencies spread over five districts cast their votes. On the issue of a separate Telangana state early this year the by-polls were necessitated by the resignation of all 10 legislators of the TRS and one each of the BJP and the TDP.

It is seen as a referendum on the issue of a separate Telangana; as many as 435 candidates are in the fray for the by-elections. The whole election process passed of peacefully and there are no reports of any violence or malfunctioning in any electoral process. The whole process was completed in a tight security.[/private]