Polling was held peacefully for the Legislative Council’s East and West Godavari districts Graduates Constituency on Friday with about 54.5% voters casting their vote. Even as the polling was scheduled to be completed by 4 p.m., it went up to 6 p.m. at many polling stations as there were long queues outside the polling stations. Those who stood in the queue by 4 p.m. were allowed to take part in the polling.
With 46 contestants remaining in the poll fray, the ballot paper was of larger size, prompting the voters to take more time to choose their candidate from the long list.
Even as two secret compartments each were arranged in the polling stations, voters waited for their turn in the serpentine queues outside many polling stations.
Though the polling began at 8 a.m. sharp, the voter turnout was thin in the morning hours and it got picked up from afternoon.
Collector and Returning Officer Kartikeya Misra cast his vote, while Superintendent of Police Vishal Gunni, along with the police officials monitored the security arrangements all over the district. Cameras were arranged at 161 polling stations and the election observer J.S.V. Prasad monitored the webcasting from the Collectorate.
In West Godavari district, Collector Praveen Kumar and Superintendent of Police M. Ravi Prakash supervised the poll process. The counting would be held at the Rangaraya Medical College on March 26. and the result is expected to be announced on the same day.
