Hyderabad:
Over 85 per cent polling was reported in the third and final phase of panchayat elections in Andhra Pradesh today.
85.53 per cent 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 in Hyderabad.
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.
Counting of votes in the third phase began at 2 pm after the polling.