More than 46 per cent exercise franchise in RMC polling

Rajahmundry, Feb 19 (UNI) More than 46 per cent of the voters turned up and exercised their franchise till 1300 in the Rajahmundry Municipal Corporation (RMC) polling which commenced at 0700 hours to elect 50 Corporators here today.

The polling was peaceful as there was heavy police security and no untoward incidents were reported in the city.

There were totally 1,95,840 voters. Women outnumbered men with 98,384 exercising their franchise while 97,456 men voted. In all 185 polling booths were set up.

One hundred and ninty five candidates belonging to Congress, TDP, CPI, BJP, BSP, CPM, RPC, RPI and Independents were in fray. However, the main contest was between the ruling Congress and the TDP.

A UNI correspondent, who went round various divisions found voters enthusiastically bringing their identity Cards and waiting in queues.

Municipal Commissioner C Nagaraja Rao said EVMs were used in the polling. There was some problem with the EVMs in the fifth ward but it was rectified and polling went on.

East Godavari District Superintendent of Police B Srinivasulu told UNI that more than two 2,000 police personnel were deployed for maintaining law and order during the polling.

Later, District Sub-Collector K Sasidhar said section 144 would be clamped in the town limits till the counting of votes and declararion of the results on February 21.

UNI