All set for first phase of local polls today

Vikarabad: The time for local polls has finally arrived. The first phase of the elections is to be held on Monday. A total of 47 candidates are competing for seven ZPTC seats in Kodangal, Doulatabad, Bomraspet, Parigi, Kulkacharla, Doma and Pudur Mandals. Elections for 97 MPTC seats were also to be held, but because three seats were already elected unanimous, the polls for the remaining 94 MPTC seats are to be held on Monday.

Some 2, 65,035 people are to exercise their franchise in 533 polling stations from the district. Key leaders of the parties vigorously campaigned for their candidates on Saturday. This led to the reassurance to the party workers. Congress Executive President & former MLA of Kondangal Revanth Reddy toured extensively in Bomraspet, Kodangal and Kosgi mandals. TRS MLA Narender Reddy also campaigned and boosted the morale of TRS workers.

MLA Mahesh Reddy and former MLA Rammohan Reddy participated in the campaign, along with the local leaders of respective parties, in Parigi constituency. On the other hand, the ZP Chairperson candidate for TRS Sunitha Mahender Reddy held campaigning in four mandals in Tandur constituency, where the second phase of polling will be held. Campaigning for the second phase also picked up momentum. Leaders of all the parties are visiting extensively in Tandur, Yalal, Basheerabad and Peddemul mandals. They promised voters to address local issues if they voted to power.

The candidates of the two major parties who are in the race for ZP Chairperson are contesting in Vikarabad constituency. Sunitha Reddy filed papers from Kotpally. Pramodini Reddy filed nomination from Vikarabad and Kotpally. While the elections are being conducted in three phases for local organizations, there is still another day left for withdrawal of nominations for the third phase.

The leaders of the parties are also engaged in the task of appeasing their rebel candidates. Three candidates from TRS filed nominations in the district headquarters -- Vikarabad. Nagendra Goud's wife G Suvarna Devi and former market committee president Ramachandra Reddy's daughter Geetha Prabhakar Reddy are in the fray.

Followers of Nagender Goud are confident of getting B-Form from the party. Geetha Prabhakar Reddy has declared that they fight independently if the party doesn't cooperate with them. Ramachandra Reddy, who served as the president of the market committee for two times, is trying to gain support in the villages. Overall, the final round of polls seems to be a little more enthusiastic.