Bandlaguda records 60 per cent poll even on working day

HYDERABAD: The municipal election at Bandlaguda jagir ended peacefully with the total voting turnout coming to around 60 per cent. The working class did not show much interest in the election as there was no government holiday.

The 22 wards of Bandlaguda jagir consists of the five villages of Kismatpur, Gandhamguda, Hydershakote, Peeram-cheruvu and Himayat Sagar. The outskirts of Hyderabad which has developed into a concrete jungle, went to polling for the first time, with the demands of people for basic water supply, sewage connection, good roads and a solution for mosquito breeding. The candidates promised a government college, health centre and a garbage dumping ward.

Each ward has about 3,000 voters, and there were no incidents of malpractice recorded. The polling started on time and majority of the crowd showed up from 10 am to 11 am. The turnout in the afternoon was less because of the hot sunny weather. Ward numbers 3, 4 and 5 voted at the Gowtham Model School. BJP candidates claimed that the ruling party workers had violated the restricted line and were moving closer to the pool both and police are ignoring it. The ward number 4 pooled 1,274 votes out of 2,440, and ward number 5 polled 1,325 out of 2,560.

Ward number 14 polled 62 per cent, which consists of three major group housing colonies.

“We expected there would be more than 80 per cent voting as this ward is filled with the educated class. There is a little disappointment but its fine,” said Prameela Naveen Kumar Godi, who contested as a ward member.

Ward number 8, 15 and 18 were the most crucial wards.  “The candidates in some wards have provided transport to the voters, which is a violation of election code,” said Naveen Goud, a booth agent.  “The strong parties are pulling voters. How can voters think freely? Party workers are going till booth to influence voter,” said K. Vidya, an independent candidate.