TRS wins majority GPs in 1st phase polls

​Hyderabad: Although gram panchayat elections are being held on non-party basis, the ruling TRS continued its winning streak. A majority of panchayats were won by the TRS-backed contestants in the first phase elections conducted in Telangana on Monday.

The local body polls passed off peacefully recording a total turnout of 85.76 per cent in 30 districts of the State. Hyderabad district covered with 100 per cent urban area has no polls.    

The highest voter turnout of 95.32 per cent was reported in Yadadri Bhongir district, followed by Khammam (93. 92), Ranga Reddy (92.67) and Suryapet 92.35 per cent. Out of 48.46 lakh voters, 41.56 lakh cast their votes.  

The first phase polls to elect sarpanch and ward members was conducted in 4,479 panchayats out of 12,751. Officials said 769 sarpanches and 10,654 ward members were elected unanimously.  

TRS leaders claimed that the ruling party clinched victory in more than 60 per cent panchayats and the same trend will  continue in the next two phases. Rough figures: TRS won nearly 3,000 panchayats and Congress 1,000 panchayats. TS working president KT Rama Rao congratulated the party cadre for their hard-work.

Repolling ordered
Taking serious note of the irregularities, the Telangana State Election  Commission has decided to conduct re-polling in ward number-2  of  Munjalakunta Thanda gram panchayat in Parvatagiri mandal in Warangal district. 

It came to light that some people cast their votes showing false documents and the polling agents also did not object in the ward where 33 votes out of the total 36 were polled.  Election Commission Secretary M Shankar Kumar said the date for conduct of  re-polling will be announced soon.