Over 80% Turnout for Panchayat Polls in Karimnagar

Karimnagar: The third and final phase of the gram panchayat elections concluded peacefully on Wednesday across the four districts of Karimnagar, Jagtial, Peddapalli and Rajanna Sircilla in erstwhile Karimnagar.

Polling recorded a historic surge in civic participation, with voter turnout significantly higher than in recent Assembly elections. In three of the four districts, turnout crossed the 80 per cent mark, reflecting intense competition for grassroots leadership.

Karimnagar district topped the turnout chart with 86.42 per cent polling, followed closely by Peddapalli at 85.66 per cent. Jagtial and Rajanna Sircilla recorded slightly lower turnout at 79.64 per cent and 79.14 per cent respectively, though the overall polling atmosphere remained highly competitive. Several villages also witnessed unanimous elections, with Rajanna Sircilla district recording the highest number of such outcomes, as seven sarpanches were elected unanimously in the third phase.

A comparison with the earlier phases showed consistent participation and growth in some districts. In the first phase, Rajanna Sircilla led with 82.47 per cent turnout, while Peddapalli recorded the lowest at 73.68 per cent. By the second phase, Karimnagar surged to 86.58 per cent and sustained this momentum through the final round.

Officials noted that the steady rise in Peddapalli, from 73.68 per cent in the first phase to 85.66 per cent in the third phase, reflected growing public interest in local governance. Karimnagar emerged as the most consistently active district, maintaining turnout above 81 per cent in all three phases of the gram panchayat elections.

With the conclusion of the final phase, the rural local body election process has been completed. Political analysts said the consistently high turnout, often exceeding 80 per cent, underlined the importance rural voters attach to the posts of sarpanch and ward member.