Barring sporadic incidents of clashes between the activists of political parties, polling to the urban local bodies across the State was by and large peaceful on Sunday. An average of over 75 per cent polling was recorded in most of the civic bodies.
The polling percentage has improved considerably this time as it was only 64.41 in 2000 and 69.12 in 2005. Some polling stations recorded over 80 per cent voting.
Missing of names in the voter lists was reported in many municipal bodies even as the people held voter photo identity cards. Malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs) was also reported from several polling booths.
Polling commenced briskly in the morning as voters preferred the time convenient to cast their franchise before the temperatures went up in the day. Long queues were seen in most of the polling stations in all districts in the morning. However, the queues disappeared by the afternoon as the sun went up.
Voters went to the polling stations again in the evening forcing the polling officials to extend the time from 5 pm till 7 pm so that all those who turned up could caste their votes. Voters suffering sun-stroke was also reported from different places.
In all, the polling was held in 10 municipal corporations and 146 municipalities/nagar panchayats in 22 districts. The State Election Commission pulled up several district officers for the lapses in preparing voters’ lists.
Speaking to newspersons State Election Commissioner P. Ramakanth Reddy said re-polling could be necessary in very few polling stations including two each in Nalgonda and Nandigama and one each at Tadipatri and Madanapalle. However, the exact number would be known only after getting reports from the presiding officers. Re-polling, if necessary, would be held on April 1, he stated.
The SEC would order inquiry into the poll-related violent incidents at Macharla in Guntur and Madakasira in Anantapur, he said.
The district-wise polling percentage recorded was: Srikakulam-77.14; Visakhapatnam-78.97; East Godavari-74.37; West Godavari-74.38; Krishna-68.62; Guntur-78.94; Prakasam-82.45; Nellore-65; Chittoor-76.38; Kadapa-72.66; Anantapur-77; Kurnool-71.02; Karimnagar-75.29; Nalgonda-76; Khammam-77.46; Ranga Reddy-73.97; Medak-77.09; Mahabubnagar-75.05; Nizamabad-60.65; and Warangal-77.03.
