Vijayawada civic polls record 54.74% turnout

Vijayawada: Despite the high political stakes and keen public interest in the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) elections, voter turnout remained below expectations, with just 54.74% of the electorate exercising their franchise on Sunday. The relatively low participation marked the conclusion of a closely watched civic election, with nearly 45% of registered voters staying away from the polling booths.

Of the 8,05,797 registered voters, 4,41,069 exercised their franchise. The votes polled included 2,17,587 men, 2,23,407 women and 75 third-gender voters. Most of the 85 divisions that went to the polls recorded turnout ranging between 30% and 60%, while only a few registered higher participation.

The 86th division (KV Kandrika) recorded the highest turnout at 71.93%, followed by the 26th division with 65%. The 83rd and 85th divisions recorded 64.70% polling. Several divisions in the Vijayawada Central and East Assembly constituencies registered turnout ranging between 30% and 50%. The 55th division recorded the lowest turnout at 33.91%, followed by the 15th division with 38%.

Among the three municipal circles, Vijayawada Central recorded the highest turnout at 57.27%, followed by Vijayawada East with 53.91% and Vijayawada West with 52.36%.

Polling began at 7 am at a slow pace and gradually gathered momentum during the day. By 3 pm, the overall turnout had reached around 48%. Voter participation increased during the final hours, taking the final polling percentage to 54.74%.

Meanwhile, polling in the 55th division at Old Rajarajeswaripeta was disrupted for nearly three hours due to confusion over the election symbols allotted to the YSRCP and Congress candidates. The discrepancy in the ballot papers led to polling being halted. Following the intervention of the State Election Commission, corrected ballot papers were supplied and voting resumed. In view of the delay, the Commission extended polling time until 7.30 pm.

The VMC has 86 divisions, of which the 64th division was declared unanimously elected. Polling was held in the remaining 85 divisions, with 349 candidates in the fray. A total of 848 polling booths were set up across the city.

The mayoral election attracted particular attention, with 19 candidates in the fray. The principal contestants were NDA-backed Jana Sena Party candidate and former MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, former Mayor and YSRCP candidate Rayana Bhagya Lakshmi, and retired IPS officer AB Venkateswara Rao, who contested as an Independent with the backing of the Left parties and Congress.

The electorate comprised 4,10,918 women, 3,94,792 men and 87 third-gender voters. The results are scheduled to be declared on November 3.

Polling across Vijayawada was conducted peacefully under tight security arrangements. NTR Police Commissioner SV Rajasekhar Babu oversaw security arrangements, with police personnel deployed at polling stations and other sensitive locations to ensure the smooth and peaceful conduct of the elections. Police maintained a close vigil throughout the polling process and regulated voter movement at polling centres.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dasari Srinivasa Rao

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Dasari Srinivasa Rao is a Staff Reporter with The Hans India, covering NTR and Krishna districts, with a primary focus on Vijayawada. He has 32 years of experience in journalism. His reporting spans a wide range of beats, including city and rural development, politics, irrigation, education, crime, and human-interest stories.

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