Second phase of panchayat polls begins peacefully

Pondicherry, Jun 27 (UNI) The second phase polling for the three-tiered local body elections in Pondicherry began on a peaceful note at 0700 hrs this morning.

Polling will come to a close at 1700 hrs.

Elections to Pondicherry and Ozhukarai municipalities and Villianur commune panchayats are being held in the second phase to decide the electoral fortunes of about 1,104 candidates, including 10 for the post of chairman for both the municipalities. About three lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise.

Though, long queues were seen in front of some booths in Villianur commune panchayats, polling began on a dull note in the municipal areas.

A triangular contest between the DMK, AIADMK and PMC is afoot for the post of Pondicherry municipal chairman while the Congress and AIADMK are fighting it out in a multi-cornered contest with Congress rebel V Pethaperumal, CPI(M)'s T Murugan and PMC's Bhuvaneswaran at Ozhukarai.

As many as 2000 police personnel, including Rapid Action Force of Indian Reserve Battalion, Pondicherry Armed force, Home guards and the local police, have been deployed for election duty. Extra security measures are in force for sixty one polling stations which were identified as sensitive.

Elections to Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam municipalities and five commune panchayats in Karaikal were held in the first phase on June 24. In the third and last phase, four commune panchayats in Pondicherry will go to polls on July one.

Counting will be held on July third.

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