In Telangana, polling was held peacefully for the first phase of  Panchayat elections in 3,701 Gram Panchayats today. This is the first ever election for Gram Panchayats after the separate Telangana State was formed in 2014. <br />''<br />''Over 12 thousand 2 hundred candidates were in the fray for Sarpanch posts while over 70 thousand contested for 28 thousand 976 ward members. As per the State Election Commission, over 70 per cent of the 40 lakh voters utilized their franchise. <br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The counting of votes will be taking place this afternoon and election of UPO (Deputy) Sarpanch also will be held this evening. </span>