ANANTAPUR: Canvassing for the second phase of gram panchayat elections in the district ended on Monday. Polling for the village-level elections in 17 mandals of Dharmavaram revenue division will be held on August 2.

Of the 266 gram panchayats, where the election process is being taken up in the division, sarpanches have been elected unanimously in 34 gram panchayats. For the remaining 232, 595 candidates are in the fray.

Similarly, of the 2,772 wards in 266 gram panchayats, members for 947 wards were elected unanimously and no nomination papers were filed for 10 wards in different villages by the locals in protest against neglect of their wards. Accordingly, polling will be held for 1,815 wards being contested by 3,558 candidates.

In all, 2,724 polling stations have been set up and 5,739 polling personnel are being roped in for the exercise.

Intense campaigning

Campaigning by the contestants, particularly for the sarpanch post, was intense on Monday with the candidates going door-to-door and explaining about their allotted election symbol. Followers of some of the candidates have canvassed by carrying harmonium, gas stove and post box with them.

Though the gram panchayat elections are being held on non-party basis, the influence of major political parties on the polls and candidates is evident. In the first phase held in Penukonda division on July 29, Congress supporters won 174 sarpanch posts against 128 by TDP supporters. Neutrals were elected in 11 other panchayats.

Polling for the third and final phase in Anantapur revenue division, will be held on August 6. Of the 368 gram panchayats in the division where elections are being held, polling will be held for 297 sarpanch posts as 71 sarpanches have already been elected unanimously.

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