Chennai: The ruling AIADMK had an upper hand in the indirect elections that were held today for over 300 posts in the civic bodies.
Polling for the rural local body Chairman posts began at 10.30 am. The polls to the Union Vice-Presidents were scheduled to be held at 3 pm. The ruling AIADMK was leading in many places.
Polls were scheduled to be held to fill 335 posts, including one District Panchayat President, one District Panchayat Vice-President, 26 posts of Panchayat Union President, 41 Panchayat Union Vice-Presidents and 266 village Panchayat Vice-Presidents. However, polls were once again postponed in a few places in Thiruvallur, Salem and Mettur due to various reasons.
Indirect elections for the posts of Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of Panchayat Unions and District Panchayats, and Vice-Presidents of Village Panchayats were held on 11 January. However, the voting was postponed in many places and was held today.
The elections to the panchayat union wards and the district panchayat wards were held in two phases in December. DMK and its allies bagged slightly more seats in the polls than the AIADMK. DMK won 2,100 ward members in panchayat unions, the AIADMK got 1,781 members.
In the district panchayats DMK bagged 243 seats and AIADMK got 214 seats. In percentage terms, DMK accounted for 43.51 per cent of the panchayat union seats and the AIADMK marginally behind at 40.64 per cent. Out of the total 515 district panchayat ward member posts, the DMK combine won 237, while the AIADMK front emerged successful in 210 seats.
Polls to local bodies in rural areas of Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Vellore, Tirupattur, Ranipettai, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts are expected alongside urban local elections later.