Peaceful Voting Marks GVMC Ward 11 Polls in Andhra Pradesh

Polling in Ward 11 of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation started peacefully on Sunday morning. Around 300 people cast their votes in the first hour after voting began at 7 a.m. at the polling station in Gollalapalem. Booth Level Officers S. Srinivas and N. Nageswarao oversaw the process. Men, women, and senior citizens stood in queues that stretched from the school entrance across the lawn. Police personnel were stationed at the gate and inside the compound, and no bad incidents were reported.

Turnout Patterns

Officials stated that residents from nearby habitations made up most of the early voters. Meanwhile, people living in apartment complexes in the area had not arrived in large numbers yet. The polls were held on November 1 under a revised schedule after being originally set for October 28. Voting was scheduled to continue until 5 p.m. Fifteen candidates are fighting for the Mayoral post, including Mukka Sravani from the NDA and Varudu Kalyani from the YSR Congress Party.

Facilities

Authorities arranged several facilities at the polling station, including a green carpet from the gate to the building and a tent over the queue to protect voters from the sun. Drinking water cans with taps and basic medical supplies like ORS sachets, cough syrups, and paracetamol tablets were provided. Ramps with handrails were set up for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Voters used two different ballot papers: pink for Mayoral candidates and white for corporators, and both went into a single ballot box.

Context

Local body elections in municipal corporations decide city-level leadership and civic management. Basic facilities like medical aid, water, and ramps are standard arrangements to help all citizens exercise their voting rights comfortably.