2.61 Crore Voters To Cast Ballots During ZPTC, MPTC Polls In AP Today
Zilla and mandal praja parishads across Andhra Pradesh are going to polls on Thursday, November 5: Reports
VIJAYAWADA: Zilla and mandal praja parishads across Andhra Pradesh are going to polls on Thursday, November 5. A total of 2.61 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes at 31,460 polling stations in various parts of the state.
Elections will be held for 582 of the 659 zilla parishad territorial constituency (ZPTC) seats. A total of 2,169 candidates are contesting the ZPTC elections. 77 candidates have been elected unanimously.
Similarly, elections will be held for 7,767 of the 9,821 mandal parishad territorial constituency (MPTC) seats. As many as 2,051 MPTC candidates have been elected unanimously.
Three MPTC seats will not go to polls, as no nominations have been filed for two seats – Sugumanchipalli 1 and Sugumanchipalli 2 – in Kondapuram mandal of YSR Kadapa district. All nominations filed for the Krishnagi MPTC seat in Banaganipalli mandal of Nandyal district have been rejected. A total of 18,843 candidates are in the fray for the 7,767 MPTC seats.
Of the total electorate, 1,28,76,887 are men, 1,32,74,208 women, and 1,282 others.
State Election Commission has identified 8,904 polling stations as sensitive and 7,160 as hypersensitive. CCTV surveillance has been arranged at 16,064 polling stations, webcasting at 6,000, and videography at 6,507 polling stations. A total of 1,01,618 ballot boxes will be used for the elections.
State Election Commissioner (SEC) Anil Chandra Punetha reviewed the poll arrangements with district collectors and superintendents of police on Wednesday. He asked them to ensure that polling is conducted peacefully and transparently.
Punetha examined the situation in districts affected by heavy rainfall under the influence of Murasu cyclone. District collectors have reported that the intensity of rainfall is subsiding and except in a few places, polling could be conducted without difficulty.
The SEC asked collectors and superintendents of police to take appropriate decisions if any problems arise.
Director-General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta said they have made necessary arrangements to ensure peaceful polling on the lines of urban local body elections held on Tuesday. He directed police personnel to ensure that voters are able to reach polling stations and cast their votes without difficulty.
Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission secretary A. Mallikarjuna said 2.52 lakh officers and staff have been deployed for the elections. He asked presiding officers to immediately consult concerned zonal magistrate or police personnel if they detect electoral malpractice or any untoward incident at a polling station.
Counting of votes will be held on Saturday, November 7, at 365 centres. Arrangements for counting include 9,062 counting tables, 11,002 counting supervisors, and 28,892 counting staff. A total of 40,679 police personnel will be deployed for security at the counting centres.