10,262 Candidates in Fray as Andhra Urban Civic Polls End
Amaravati, November 1: Polling for 92 urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh was completed on Sunday with largely peaceful conduct, State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha announced, noting only small, isolated incidents.
The voting process ran from 7 am to 5 pm across 13 municipal corporations, 79 municipalities and nagar panchayats. Voters who were already in queues at 5 pm were given the chance to cast their votes.
Turnout stood at 48.03 per cent by 3 pm, based on preliminary district figures.
From polling booths to reception centres
Polling personnel will now transport ballot boxes and election materials to reception centres. Every polling station's recorded votes will be checked to arrive at the final turnout figure. The commissioner said the official percentage will be declared by Monday, after complete data is received from all reception centres.
Voter base and polling infrastructure
The election covered 99.35 lakh registered voters, who were eligible to vote at 11,378 polling centres.
The results will be known on November 3, when votes are counted. That day will determine the outcome for 10,262 candidates vying for mayor, chairperson and ward posts.
Unanimous outcomes in several bodies
Chairperson posts were filled unanimously in 17 municipalities and nagar panchayats. Eight municipalities and nagar panchayats saw both chairpersons and ward members elected without contest.
By the numbers
A total of 153 candidates contested the mayoral posts in 13 municipal corporations, while 367 candidates were in the race for chairperson posts in 70 municipalities. Out of 922 corporator wards, 804 went to polls and 118 were decided unanimously. The 804 corporation wards drew 3,077 candidates, while 6,669 candidates contested 2,382 wards in municipalities and nagar panchayats.
Oversight and complaints
To keep the process peaceful, the commissioner conducted review meetings with district collectors, police superintendents, police commissioners, DIGs and election observers. Complaints and applications from political party representatives across the state were received, and authorities have been instructed to investigate and act where necessary.
The commissioner also spoke for around 45 minutes with collectors of Nandyal, Kadapa, Palnadu, Markapuram, Prakasam, Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor, Anantapur, Kurnool, Annamayya and Sri Sathya Sai districts on polling, complaints and any violence. Most districts reported peaceful voting with only minor grievances, while some reported none.
Time extended in Vijayawada ward
Ward 55 of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation saw polling begin about two and a half hours late due to technical and other problems. At the request of the district collector, and in keeping with the Election Commission's powers, voting there has been extended to 7:30 pm.
Action on reported incidents
The collectors of Palnadu and Anantapur flagged specific incidents in their districts. Reports from presiding officers and other evidence will be examined after polling ends, and action will follow the rules if the complaints are substantiated.
Inspector General Raja Kumari said around 40 incidents occurred during Sunday's polling and 275 FIRs have been registered. All cases are being examined in depth, and FIRs are being lodged where criminal elements are identified.