First phase of Gram panchayat polls peaceful

Mahbubnagar: The gram panchayat elections on Monday in erstwhile Mahbubnagar district passed off peacefully. Of the 595 gram panchayats, the panchayats of 112 villages were elected unanimously, while polls for remaining 468 panchayats were held, wherein 1,309 candidates battled out for the Sarpanch post.

In Mahbubnagar district, 249 gram panchayats spanning the 10 mandals went for polls in the first phase. However, with 39 villages electing their panchayats unanimously, the elections were held for 210 panchayats where 605 candidates fought for the Sarpanch post.

Among the 10 mandals, 13 panchayats in Krishna mandal, 16 in Maganooru, 39 in Makthal, 19 in Narva, 23 in Utkoor, 28 in Narayanpet, 30 in Damargidda, 20 in Dhanwada, 17 in Marikal and 44 panchayats in Koilkonda went for polls on the day. A voting percentage of 84.719 was recorded in the district.

In Nagarkurnool district, elections were held for 118 panchayats where 296 candidates test their luck for Sarpanch post. In Wanaparthy district, out of a total 80 gram panchayats, 63 panchayats went for elections and 205 candidates contested for Sarpanch posts.

In Jogulamba-Gadwal, about 203 sarpanch candidates were in fray for 77 panchayats out of a total of 106 panchayats that went for polls on Monday. Of them, 29 were elected unanimously.

In all the four districts of Mahbubnagar district, of the total 5,352 wards members, 1,532 ward members were elected unanimously. The elections for remaining 3,785 wards were conducted where 8,290 candidates battled it out.