Cyclone-hit Godavari region records steady high voter turnout

An elderly woman voter awaits her turn to cast her vote in Kakinada district on Sunday.

The election to the 14 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), including three nagar panchayats, on Sunday witnessed a commendable voter turnout across the Godavari region despite them them being busy recovering from the devastation caused by ‘Cyclone Arnab’.

Among all the ULBs, Narsapuram and Amalapuram municipalities were among the worst-hit by the cyclone, but voters thronged polling stations to exercise their franchise. Simultaneously, relief operations of ‘Cyclone Arnab’ continued in the two towns of Narsapuram and Amalapuram.

In Amalapuram municipality at least 71.87 % voters exercised their vote. In Narsapuram municipality, the area where the cyclone made its landfall on October 29, 70% voters cast their vote.

In Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, Ramachandrapuram municipality witnessed a turnout of 70.73%, while Mummudivaram nagar panchayat registered 75.09%.

Pawan’s own turf: In Kakinada district, the total polling percentage was 68.42. In Pithapuram assembly constituency, represented by Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, Pithapuram and Gollaprolu municipalities witnessed polling percentages of 66.31 and 74.36, respectively. In the upland areas of Kakinada district, Peddapuram registered 66.86% polling while Samarlakota and Tuni recorded 70.57 % and 65.24 % respectively.

In Yeleswaram nagar panchayat, which recorded a turnout of 71.40%, polling was halted for some time due to technical glitches. Voters pointed out the absence of the BJP candidate’s name and symbol on the ballot papers given to at one polling station.

At another polling station, the name and symbol of a TDP candidate were reportedly missing from the ballot papers. Polling resumed after District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad rushed to the spots and resolved the issue. The problem emerged during the distribution of ballot papers on October 31.

In East Godavari district, polling was largely peaceful. Among the three municipalities that wen to the polls, Mandapeta witnessed the highest polling percentage of 77.54. Nidadavolu municipality, represented by Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh witnessed 69.30%, while Kovvuru witnessed 68.43 %.

A woman carrying her baby returns from the polling station after exercising her franchise in Pithapuram municipal election in Kakinada district on Sunday.

In West Godavari district, Akiveedu nagar panchayat, the total polling percentage was 72.75, with a women voters exercising their franchise in large numbers.