VZM sees less than 70% turnout in polls

Visakhapatnam: After having recorded the highest voter turnout in the state in the recently-concluded panchayat elections,

Vizianagaram

district could not cross the 70% turnout threshold in the urban local body polls on Wednesday. At the end of polling, it was found that 68.94% voters cast their ballot.

Elections for Vizianagaram Municipal Corporation, Parvathipuram, Bobbili and Salur municipalities and Nellimarla nagar panchayat were held on Wednesday. Of the total 3,31,195 voters, 2,27,324 exercised their franchise.

Among all the urban local bodies, Nellimarla nagar panchayat saw the highest turnout, 79.75%. Parvathipuram municipality reported 74.46% and Salur municipality 73.1%. The first-ever elections to Vizianagaram Municipal Corporation saw 64.51% turnout.

Vizianagaram district collector M Hari Jawaharlal said that there were no stray incidents in any part of the district and elections were held peacefully. District police chief B Raja Kumari expressed happiness over peaceful polls.

The posts of the mayor of Vizianagaram Municipal Corporation and Parvathipuram municipality chairperson have been reserved for women (BC) candidates. The chairperson post for Salur municipality is reserved for woman (general) while the post of the chairperson of Nellimarla nagar panchayat is reserved for woman (SC).

It may be recalled that Vizianagaram posted the highest overall polling percentage in the recently-held gram panchayat elections. The district saw 85.36% turnout. The third and fourth phase of the panchayat elections saw 87.09% voters go out to poll.