Campaigning ends; polling tomorrow

Hanamkonda: As the campaigning for the GWMC 44th ward by-election has come to close here on Sunday, both the BJP and TRS leaders have claimed victory of their candidates in the election.

Anishetty Saritha of TRS and Kolanu Santhosh Reddy of BJP were in the fray for the by-poll, necessitated following the murder of sitting corporator Anishetty Murali, the husband of TRS nominee, Anishetty Saritha.

Warangal (West) MLA D Vinay Bhasker and Mayor N Narender have on Sunday took out separate bike rallies in the ward in support of the party nominee. MP P Dayakar, State Handicapped Development Corporation Chairman K Vasudeva Reddy, KUDA Chairman M Yadava Reddy, GWMC corporators D Vijay Bhasker, Boda Dinna, T Vidyasagar, V Ravinder and others took part in the rally.

Speaking to presspersons, Vinay Bhasker said development works worth about Rs 3.20 crore were executed in the 44th division so far. There was good response from the voters and they promised to vote for the TRS candidate. The development of the city was only possible with the TRS.

On the other hand, the BJP Warangal Urban district president Rao Padma has led a padayatra in the division appealing the voters for vote for the party nominee, Santhosh Reddy. The party zonal in-charge B Bal Reddy, district in-charge M Chandraiah, senior leaders M Dharma Rao, state official spokesperson A Rakesh Reddy, Warangal Rural district president A Ashok Reddy and others joined the padayatra. Interacting with presspersons, Padma said the people in the 44th division were vexed up with the TRS rule. Though the area was located in the centre of Warangal city, there was no development. It resembles a slum without proper roads, drainage and water supply, she stated. The voters in the ward were determined to teach a lesson to the ruling TRS, she said adding in order to ensure development and proper utilisation of central funds, there is a need for strong opposition in the GWMC council.

Meanwhile, the Additional Commissioner Ch Nageshwar informed that all arrangements were made for the polling to be conducted on January 9 between 7 am and 5 pm. The counting of votes and declaration of result would take place on January 11. The District Collector, Amrapali Kata, in a statement on Sunday, informed that holiday would be given to government employees living under 44th division limits on the day of polling to cast their votes. The employees need to compensate the holiday by working on any other government holiday.

Similarly, holiday was also declared to schools where polling would take place, she added.