Polling peaceful for Hyderabad local body MLC election

Polling for the post of Member of Legislative Council for the Hyderabad local body reached 78.57% by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, which remained the same by the time the poll concluded at 4 p.m.

Returning Officer Anurag Jayanti said that polling was peaceful. Two polling stations were organised in the GHMC headquarters for the elections.

The polling began at 8 a.m. A total 88 out of the 112 voters exercised their franchise through the day. Of the total voters, 31 were ex officio members, and 22 of them have polled their votes. Of the 81 corporators, 66 exercised their vote.

Up to 10 a.m., the polling was 37.51%, and between 10 a.m. and 12 noon, the highest number polled their votes taking the percentage to 77.68%, a note informed.

Among the first to arrive at the polling venue were BJP’s G. Kishan Reddy, Eatala Rajender, K. Laxman and Konda Vishweshwar Reddy. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi and MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi and others voted later. Congress MP Anil Kumar Yadav, present MLCs M. Kodandaram, M.S. Prabhakar and Balmoori Venkat, MLAs Danam Nagender and Sri Ganesh besides Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi and Deputy Mayor Srilatha Shoban Reddy exercised their vote. MLA T. Raja Singh was among the legislators who voted.

Election observer Surendra Mohan and Returning Officer Anurag Jayanti visited the polling centres, and observed the voting. After the polling, ballot boxes were brought to the reception centre with security, and kept in safe custody of the strong room. Security arrangements were made at the strong room. Counting will begin on Friday at 8 a.m.