Polling was held from 7 AM to 5 PM on Sunday in 92 urban local bodies: 13 municipal corporations and 79 municipalities and nagar panchayats. There were 11,378 polling centres for 99.35 lakh voters, and 10,262 candidates in the fray.
Turnout
Turnout was 48.03% by 3 PM. That is a preliminary figure; the final number will be announced on Monday after reception centres file full details. Turnout in the 2021 municipal polls was 63.6%. In Vijayawada's 55th division, polling started about two and a half hours late, so voting was extended to 7:30 PM.
Incidents and the SEC
- IG (Law and Order) Raja Kumari said 275 FIRs have been registered since nominations began, and about 40 incidents were reported on Sunday.
- State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha said polling was peaceful barring minor incidents. He said action on Pulivendula would follow the SP's report, and that strong rooms holding ballot boxes will be tightly guarded.
Both sides
YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that his party's agents were forced out of nearly 70 of the 80 booths in Pulivendula. "We would definitely be approaching the Supreme Court," he said, and called for changes in how State Election Commissioners are appointed and for live CCTV at every polling station. TDP MLC Varla Ramaiah accused Jagan of planning the polling-day violence and said YSRCP cadres set their own vehicles on fire.
Counting is on November 3. IMD says Cyclone Murasu is likely to cross the coast between Nellore and Narsapur between 11:30 PM on November 2 and 4 AM on November 3.
