First phase panchayat polls conclude peacefully in AP

Hyderabad, July 29 (UNI) Except for some stray incidents of violence and police firing into the air in Kurnool district, the first phase of Panchayat polls ended peacefully at 1300 hours.

Despite the rains, brisk polling was reported all over the state.

The counting of votes starts at 1400 hrs and the results would be announced by evening.

Though the elections were being held on non-party basis in 6545 Gram Panchayats and 65,846 Wards in 26 Revenue divisions, all political parties fielded their candidates and party leaders, including MLAs and Ministers openly supported and campaigned for the candidates.

Of the 19,094 Panchayats going to polls, different parties had already won the Sarpanch posts in 3228 posts through unanimous elections.

Congress had already established its supremacy by bagging 2080 posts. The TDP managed to win only 829 of the unanimously elected posts.

The recent killing of eight Maoists in Nallamala forests including Maoist State Secretary Madhav had its effect in Telangana districts with several election officials absconding and the authorities conducting the polls with the help of Anganwadi workers and private school teachers.

However, surprisingly heavy polling was reported from Karimnagar, the native village of slain naxal leader Madhav.

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