Peaceful polling in Tuticorin district

Polling for the posts of two village panchayat presidents, three village panchayat ward members and one town panchayat ward member in the district ended on Thursday.

A total of 55.4 per cent of electors exercised their franchise in the byelections held for the posts of presidents and ward members of village panchayats, while 84.7 percent of electors cast their votes to elect the ward member at Eral Town Panchayat.

Segmentwise, 73.1 per cent of the total 2,267 electors went to the polling station to elect the president of Meerankulam village panchayat and 50.2 per cent cast their votes to elect the president of Kulasekarapattinam village panchayat.

In the polls held to the posts of ward members at Padmanama Mangalam, Umarikadu and Tharuvaikulam village panchayats, 36.4 per cent, 66.3 per cent and 48.7 per cent electors exercised their franchise.

The counting is slated for February 9.

Official sources said that a total of 20 candidates were elected to the posts of village panchayat ward members, being the only candidates in the contest.

Similarly, Subbammal and Dhandayuthapani were elected to the posts of presidents of Paraikootam (Ottapidaram block) and Sivagnanapuram (Vilathikulam block) village panchayats, unopposed.

No election was held at ward number one of Moolakarai village panchayat under Tiruchendur block, since there was no contestant in the fray.

Source: The Hindu