The counting of votes for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections began on Friday morning. The polls are being seen as a three-way battle between the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to reports, TRS is now leading in 57 of the 150 seats. 

As many as 1,122 candidates await the results, while the mayor’s post is reserved for a woman this year. The campaign saw an exceptionally shrill and divisive contest. The polling on Tuesday recorded 46.55% voter turnout with 34.50 lakh people voting from a total of 74.67 lakh voters. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the counting that will take place at 30 places with the help of over 8,000 personnel, PTI reported.

Unlike previous elections, traditional ballot papers were used and the results are likely to be known only in the evening or in the night.