Poor response from voters for the first Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections once again reflected the apathy of citizens of the capital towards local body polls. Save for a few minor incidents, polling was peaceful and low turnout was universal across the 150 divisions on Monday.
Chances of a re-poll are likely in only one polling station in Defence Colony (135 – polling station 42) because of a complaint over the voters list while two units of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were changed in Marredpally (149 – 25th P.S.) and Musheerabad (91 - seventh P.S.) divisions before the poll began, due to low battery charge.
A police case was filed in Puranapul division (53) following a fracas between a candidate’s relative and a polling agent of another party, said Election Authority and Commissioner S.P. Singh at a press conference he addressed along with District Election Officer M.T. Krishna Babu.
Poll percentage was about 46 per cent and final figure could take some more time since polling was still on in a few polling stations of Serilingampally and Kukatpally divisions, Mr. Babu said. “Our election observers too have not informed us about any major incident. They toured all divisions extensively, especially the sensitive polling stations. They will be submitting their reports to the State Election Commission (SEC),” he said.
