Peaceful polling in 44 naxal areas along tri-state border

An elderly woman voter is brought to a polling booth in Rampacchodavaram agency in Polavaram district on Thursday. | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

RAMPACHODAVARAM/BHIMAVARAM

Elections in 44 polling stations falling under the Left Wing Extremist (LWE) designated areas on the borders of the three states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana went off smoothly without any major incidents. The polling staff stationed at the booths returned safely with the ballot boxes.

In Polavaram district, nearly 1.40 million voters – 63% – cast their votes in the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) elections.

In the Rampachodavaram agency area, tribal voters, including those displaced by the Polavaram irrigation project, came in large numbers from their resettlement and rehabilitation colonies to cast their vote.

A Konda Reddi woman walks out of a polling booth after casting her vote at Rampacchodavaram in Polavaram district on Thursday. | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT

Polavaram District Collector K. Dinesh Kumar said, “During the election, there was no untoward incident anywhere in Polavaram district, including the 44 polling stations that fall under LWE-affected areas. Polling in these 44 polling stations ended at 3 pm.”

At least 1,100 police officers were deployed for the elections.

Elections were held for 12 ZPTCS and 101 MPTCs in Polavaram district which falls under the fifth schedule of the constitution. Mr. Dinesh Kumar said that additional traffic arrangements to manage the rains helped register a good turnout.

Counting for the four mandals submerged for the Polavaram project will be done in Chintoor. Counting of the remaining eight mandals will take place at Rampacchodavaram on November 7.

In West Godavari district, voting took place in alternate government buildings after 43 designated polling stations were submerged due to incessant rains.

District Collector Chadalavada Nagarani said polling booths have been shifted to government buildings in five mandals — Attili, Tanuku, Mogalthuru, Veeravasam and Penumantra — instead of postponing the polls.

The total voter turnout was 67.36%. The survey took place at 20 ZPTC and 340 MPTC. Attili mandal recorded the highest voting percentage of 72%.

In East Godavari district, elections to one ZPTC and 18 MPTC seats have been postponed to November 6 following flash floods in Gopalapuram mandal, said District Collector Ch. Kirthi.

Published – 05 Nov 2026 21:14 IST