Stage set for first phase of gram panchayat polls in Karimnagar

The first phase of gram panchayat elections begins in Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Jagtial, and Rajanna-Sircilla districts on Tuesday. Authorities have deployed large police forces, imposed prohibitory orders, and arranged webcasting to ensure smooth polling and counting of votes.

Karimnagar: The stage is set for the first phase of gram panchayat elections in the erstwhile Karimnagar district on Tuesday. Polling will begin at 7 am and continue till 1 pm, followed by counting in the afternoon and results in the evening.

Election authorities have made elaborate arrangements for polling in select mandals of Karimnagar, Peddapalli, Jagtial, and Rajanna-Sircilla districts.

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Polling staff reached their respective stations on Tuesday evening after collecting material from distribution centres.

A large police force has been deployed to ensure peaceful polling, with additional personnel positioned at sensitive locations. Prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were imposed, restricting gatherings of more than four persons. Webcasting arrangements have been made at select polling stations to monitor voting.

In Peddapalli, polling will be held for 95 gram panchayats and 685 wards in Kamanpur, Manthani, Mutharam-Manthani, Ramagiri, and Srirampur mandals. While 377 candidates are contesting for sarpanch posts, 1,880 are in the fray for ward memberships. A total of 896 polling stations have been set up, with 1,031 presiding officers and 1,346 other polling officers deployed. Webcasting has been arranged at 114 stations.

In Rajanna-Sircilla, voting will take place in 76 gram panchayats and 521 wards across Chandurthi, Konaraopet, Rudrangi, Vemulawada (urban), and Vemulawada (rural). As many as 521 polling stations have been set up, and 898 presiding officers along with 1,135 polling officers have been deployed.

In Karimnagar district, elections will be held for 91 gram panchayats across Gangadhara, Choppadandi, Ramadugu, Kothapalli, and Karimnagar rural mandals, with 858 polling stations established.