Polling begins for first phase of gram panchayat elections across Telangana

Polling for 3,834 Sarpanch and 27,628 ward member posts began across Telangana on Tuesday, with voters braving the cold from 7 a.m. Over 56 lakh voters are eligible, and counting will start at 2 p.m. with results expected the same evening.

Hyderabad: Polling for 3,834 Sarpanch posts and 27,628 ward member posts in the first phase of gram panchayat elections commenced across several districts on Tuesday, with voters braving the cold from 7 a.m. Women and senior citizens were seen turning up in considerable numbers to cast their votes.

In all, 56,19,430 voters are eligible to cast their votes at 37,562 polling stations. Voting will continue till 1 p.m. and counting will begin at 2 p.m., with results expected to be declared the same evening.

In the first phase, election notification was issued for 4,236 gram panchayats and 37,440 ward member posts. Nominations were not filed for five gram panchayats and 169 ward member posts. As many as 396 Sarpanches and 9,633 ward members have been elected unanimously.

The State Election Commission has identified 3,461 polling stations as sensitive and installed surveillance cameras at these locations. Nearly 50,000 police personnel, 60 special police platoons and about 2,000 staff from the fire services and forest departments have been deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections, officials said.