Over 56% of the votes were polled in the GVMC boundary

Elections on Wednesday for Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), no untoward incident was reported from any of the 98 wards under eight different zones. A total of 8,13,071 voters exercised their franchise, with 56.01% voting.

The total number of voters is 17,26,158. Voting, which began on a sluggish note with less than 10% turnout in the first two hours, was gradually lifted. Votes were cast in the first two hours (till 9 am), 1,53,465 (8.99%), 11 am 3,83,582 (22.22%), 1 pm 6,22,996 (36.09%), 3 pm 8 pm, GVMC According to the statement released by the commissioner, 13,071 (47.10%) and the polling held till 5 pm was 9,66,837 (56.01%).

The polling process intensified at 7 am and senior citizens reached some polling stations first. “I came in the first hour, because the crowd would be less and I could cast my vote without any trouble,” Chau said. Srinivasa Rao, a retired government employee in Madhavadhara.

Though polling in many wards remained sluggish, long queues were seen in some areas such as Appughar and Peda Jalaripeta till 8 am

With the issue of privatization of the Visakhapatnam steel plant, all polling stations around Gajuwaka and VSP were notified as sensitive and hyper sensitive.

In defiance of Centre’s proposal for 100% strategic sales of VSPs, plant employees ballot an extra slip of paper with the slogan ‘Save VSP’. District Collector V. Vinay Chand in a later statement urged voters to do so, as it was illegal.

In general, voting has been peaceful in all the 98 wards in GVMC and in 22 wards in Yelamanchali and 28 wards in Narasipatnam municipalities.

Adequate security personnel were not deployed at all polling stations for smooth conduct of polling.

Two to three counters with Saints and hand-held thermal scanners were installed by ASHA workers at each polling station. All the voters entering the booth had to go through our counters, an ASHA worker said at a polling station in Murlinagar.

Videographers were seen at several polling stations and policemen and volunteers were seen helping senior citizens and different voters at polling stations.

Although people were usually seen wearing masks, some polling stations were seen walking without them. Both police and health workers appeared to be inspired to wear them. However, the social distinction criterion was not practiced at most polling stations.

The vast campus of Gajuwaka High School had many polling stations but was distributed to voters and therefore not overly crowded. While many voters wore masks, some of them, including senior citizens, were oblivious to the threat of COVID-19 as they roamed the campus without masks.

However, the authorities arranged for thermal scanning and sanitation at all booths. The ASHA worker said that he has not yet recorded above normal temperature (till around 11.30 am) but has not ruled out the high temperature as voters in the queue stood in the open and there was no security and the temperature rose till noon. Will go. Although there was a lot of open space inside the Gajuwaka High School campus, the roads leading to the school from Gajuwaka Main Road and National Highway on the other side were narrow. People were seen gathering in groups outside the school premises, although 144 streams were in force around polling stations.

“Traffic jams are common on Gajuwaka Main Road. It is in the industrial area, there is heavy traffic during the morning and evening including trucks and other heavy vehicles. A flyover at Old Gajuwaka is needed to reduce traffic congestion, ”says Nagiredi Ramesh, a taxi driver from Gajuwaka.

An old man was seen being carried away by his relative at the Social Welfare Hostel polling station on BC Road. Policemen were seen on the mike announcing not to gather near the polling station as Section 144 was applicable. Despite being comparatively senior citizens, the Youngsters were in good numbers. The COVID-19 threat appears to have prevented them from visiting the booths.

While there is no doubt that the Centre’s decision to privatize the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) will have a definite impact on the minds of voters in the city’s industrial areas, it is difficult to keep the voters’ minds out of their choice.

An old woman suffering from paralysis was taken to a chair at Mandal Parishad Primary School in Lakshmipuram in Pendurthi Mandal. Although there were queues inside the polling station, many men gathered outside the wall, without masks, and distributed pouches of buttermilk to the people.