Telangana Muncipal Elections: Overall turnout 70%

Hyderabad: Elections in 120 municipalities and nine municipal corporations in Telangana ended today, with some minor clashes between political parties.

Defying age and physical weaknesses, voters turned up in large numbers at polling booths to cast their votes.

Huge turnout registered with about 70 per cent in 120 municipalities and nine municipal corporations in the state amid incidents of minor clashes between TRS and BJP and Congress and MIM workers in about dozen places like Wyra, Boduppal, Gadwal, Jagityal and Peddapally. The police arrested persons while distributing nosal rings and sarees to the voters.

“Unlike in Assembly polls, there have been no complaints about missing of names in electoral rolls. However, polling was delayed at few polling booths in Meerpet Municipality and Badangpet Municipal Corporation,” said the official.

Results will be announced on January 25. Elections in Karimnagar Municipal Corporation will be held on January 25 and results would be declared two days later.

The opposition parties are no match for TRS in Telangana, said a political observer, while attributing the reason to lack candidates for BJP and Congress in 700 and 400 wards respectively.

The Election Commission (EC) along with the Telangana Police Department has made elaborate security arrangements in districts, where extremist influence is more.

Meanwhile, employees working directly and indirectly in Hitech City, Gachibowli and Financial District zones are unsure on whether to cast a vote or not because of non-availability of leaves. A majority of techies did not get leaves on Wednesday.

"Considering the situation, we have made special arrangements to ensure that they cast votes in the first two hours. So that after exercising their franchise, they could go to work. Maybe they will report a couple of hours late. Those who are working in Hitech City zone are mostly from outskirts of Hyderabad, said a TRS candidate in Kompally.