Car zooms past others in Phase 1 of Gram panchayats polls

Nalgonda/Suryapet/Bhongir: The first phase of gram panchayat elections in Nalgonda, Suryapet and Yadadri-Bhongir districts on Monday concluded in a peaceful manner, though there were a few minor incidents.

As per the scheduled time, polling in all gram panchayats started at 7 am and concluded at 1 pm under tight security arrangements. Voters in respective villages took part enthusiastically and cast their votes.

In Nalgonda, officials conducted elections for 252 Sarpanch and 1,914 ward member posts covering 10 mandals in Devarakonda division in the district.

Meanwhile, a TRS Sarpanch candidate expressed his concern before the media over CI Narender not allowing him to enter the polling station. He demanded counting of votes in the presence of RDO or SP for fair and transparent election.

Majority Sarpanch and ward members were won by ruling party in six mandals of Devarakonda Assembly constituency. Whereas, Congress emerged victorious in Munugodu constituency.

Overall, the average poll percentage in first phase of gram panchayat elections covering 10 mandals in Nalgonda district was 91.28 %. While Gurrampodu mandal recorded 93.76 poll percentage and stood first, the Penpahad stood last with 86.17 poll percentage.

Superintendent of Police AV Ranganath has visited Junuthala village of Gurrampodu mandal and Kondamallepally and examined the security arrangements.

In Suryapet district, elections for 161 gram panchayats were held. District Collector Amoy Kumar and Joint Collector Sanjeeva Reddy has visited a few polling stations in Kodad constituency and enquired the officials about the polling trend.

Superintendent of Police R Venkateshwarlu has visited several polling stations in Mungala and others in neighbouring mandals in Kodad Assembly constituency and inspected the security arrangements.

In Akupamula village, one of the election agents Satyam Raju (77) at Ward 6 polling booth got heart stroke and died on the way to the hospital. Overall, 92.35 poll percentage was recorded in the district. Anathagiri mandal stood top with 94.42 poll percentage. Kodad MLA Bollam Mallaiah Yadav has cast his vote at his native place Karivirala of Nadigudem mandal of Kodad constituency.

In Yadadri-Bhongir district, officials conducted elections for 102 Sarpanch posts and 803 ward member posts in five mandals of Aler constituency. The average poll percentage recorded was 95.32. Among the mandals, Bommalaramaram with poll percentage of 96.66 stood at first position, whereas Aler mandal with poll percentage 93.78 came last.

Aler MLA Gongidi Sunitha along with her husband Mahender Reddy cast votes at native village Vangapally of Yadagirigutta mandal. Rachakonda CP Mahesh Bagawath visited various polling stations in Bommalaramaram mandal and examined the security arrangements at the centres.
Elected ward members later elected vice-Sarpanches of respective panchayats in the presence of election officials.

Meanwhile, Congress affiliated Sarpanch candidate Balaraju Kavitha has won the election with a majority of 157 votes at Aler MLA Gongidi Sunitha’s native village Vangapally.

Similarly, Congress-supported Neelima Gandhi won as Sarpanch post with 17 votes majority at Kodad MLA Bollam Mallaiah’s native village Karivirala of Nadigudem mandal.

Demanding recounting of votes, workers of Congress and TRS clashed after a TRS candidate won the seat with 15 votes In Venugopalapuram of Nadigudem mandal of Kodad Assembly constituency. Police caned the protestors to disperse them. In the melee, a Mahakutami candidate, Ganesh suffered injuries and was shifted to hospital for treatment.