Anantapur: For the first the time in the history of gram panchayat polls , no untoward incidents were reported from the faction-affected Anantapur district on Saturday.
About 84 per cent polling was recorded even from hyper-sensitive areas of Dharmavaram and Kalyanadurgam where both the YSRC and TD have strong control over many villages. As only 15 gram panchayats saw unanimous elections, polling was held for 293 gram panchayats in the second phase.
These included the native villages of slain warlords Paritala Ravindra and Maddelacheruvu Suri, police succeeded in ensuring it was peaceful. These villages observe the centuries old Palegar system prevalent in the Vijayanagara Empire.
SP Satya Esubabu said polling was held in a free and fair manner and there were no untoward incidents. An average of 84 per cent turnout was recorded at all panchayats.
Counting of votes was held later and sources said YSRC-backed candidates won more than 150 gram panchayats.
