READY FOR THE TEST: Poll personnel coming out of the Nagarjuna Government College in Nalgonda after collecting ballot boxes and other material on Tuesday. — Photo: Nagara Gopal

HYDERABAD: Eleven districts in the State will elect their representatives for Mandal and Zilla Parishads on Wednesday amid elaborate security arrangements to thwart any attempts by the naxalites to disrupt the polling in the first phase.

Officials are keeping their fingers crossed in the wake of a major encounter in Mahabubnagar district where eight Maoists were shot dead. The incident took place on a day when the Maoists called for a State bandh against what they called "fake encounters".

Director-General of Police Swaranjit Sen admitted that the Maoists had indeed hurled a challenge.

He told The Hindu that the police perceived threats from the outfit in Khammam, Adilabad, Prakasam and Mahabubnagar, but asserted that police were fully geared to meet any situation.

About two crore voters will exercise their franchise in eleven districts -- Adilabad, Anantapur, East Godavari, Kadapa, Karimnagar, Krishna, Kurnool, Medak, Nalgonda, Prakasam and Nalgonda -- on Wednesday. They include one crore women.

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