Hyderabad:
Over 85 percent polling was reported in the third and final phase of gram panchayat elections in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.
85.53 percent of electorates turned up for voting. The poll percentages in the first phase (on July 23) and second phase (on July 27) were 83.96 and 87.32 respectively, State Election Commission officials said.
The overall polling percentage was 85.73 in the state which has 3,94,01,855 voters, including 1,97,52,741 women.
The polling was originally supposed to be held in 21,491 panchayats, but the voting was either countermanded or "adjourned" (to be held later) in several gram panchayats due to various reasons like heavy rains, law and order issues, deaths of candidates.
The elections were held without party affiliation, but the sympathisers of ruling Congress and main Opposition TDP have reported to have done well.
The model code of conduct, that came into force on July 3, came to an end on Wednesday night.
Counting of votes in the third phase began at 2 pm after the polling, which started at 7 am and concluded at 1 pm.
