Peaceful Voting in Andhra Pradesh Local Body Elections; Results to be Announced on November 3

Amaravati, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : Voting for the local body elections in Andhra Pradesh concluded peacefully on November 1, according to State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha. The elections, covering 92 urban local bodies (ULBs), experienced only minor incidents throughout the day.

Polls opened at 7 AM and closed at 5 PM, allowing those in line at closing time to cast their votes. By 3 PM, preliminary reports indicated a voter turnout of 48.03 percent.

Polling staff transported ballot boxes and election materials to reception centers, where the final voter turnout will be calculated after verifying votes from each polling station. The official voting percentage will be announced by Monday, following the collection of complete data from the reception centers. A total of 11,378 polling centers were set up for approximately 9.935 million eligible voters.

The fate of 10,262 candidates vying for mayor, chairperson, and ward-level positions will be determined on November 3, when the vote counting takes place. In 17 municipalities and town councils, chairperson positions were filled by consensus. Additionally, in eight municipalities and town councils, both chairpersons and ward members were elected unopposed.

In the 13 municipal corporations, 153 candidates contested for the mayoral positions, while 367 candidates competed for chairperson roles in 70 municipalities. Voting occurred in 804 out of 922 corporator wards, with 3,077 candidates in the running. For the municipalities and town councils, 6,669 candidates vied for positions across 2,382 wards.

The State Election Commissioner emphasized the importance of ensuring a peaceful voting process. He held review meetings with district collectors, superintendents of police, police commissioners, and election observers. Complaints from various political party representatives regarding the election process were addressed, with directives issued for investigations and necessary actions.

Punetha engaged in discussions with collectors from various districts, including Nandyal, Kadapa, Palnadu, and Tirupati, focusing on the voting process and any reported incidents of violence. Most districts reported smooth voting, with only a few minor complaints.

In Vijayawada, voting in Ward 55 was delayed by approximately two and a half hours due to technical issues. To accommodate voters, the polling time was extended to 7:30 PM.

The commissioner noted that reports from district collectors highlighted some incidents, which would be investigated after voting concluded. If complaints are substantiated, appropriate actions will follow.

Inspector General Raja Kumari reported around 40 incidents during voting, with 275 FIRs filed. Investigations are underway for these incidents, particularly where criminal elements are identified.