Urban local body elections begin in Andhra Pradesh

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People waiting in queue lines outside the Polling Station 2 of the 55th ward in Rajarajeswari Peta of Vijayawada, where polling began at 9 a.m. A printing error in allotment of party symbols to two candidates caused the delay. Photo: K.V.S. Giri

Polling for Mayors, chairpersons, and ward members in 13 Municipal Corporations and 79 Municipalities and Nagar Panchayats in Andhra Pradesh began at 7 a.m. amid tight security.

State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha and his team of officers are personally monitoring the conduct of the elections, for which elaborate arrangements were made, including the installation of CCTV cameras and deployment of drones at places where clashes are anticipated.

Due focus was laid on the maintenance of law and order in view of the violent incidents that marred the process of filing of nominations. Tight security was provided at a total of 142 critical, 7,070 sensitive and 4,262 hypersensitive polling stations in the urban local bodies.

A close watch is being kept on violations of the Model Code of Conduct. Polling is scheduled to come to an end at 5 p.m., and repolling if any will be conducted on November 2.

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