Hyderabad, Feb. 12 -- Polling for the municipal elections in Telangana concluded on Wednesday, with around 70% of the voters exercising their franchise till 5 pm, state election commission officials said.

State election commissioner Rani Kumudini said that the polling, which began on a dull note in the morning, picked up in the afternoon. "By 3 pm, the poll percentage touched 62%. All those who were in queues at the time of closure of polling at 5 pm were allowed to cast their votes," she said.

Amid a few scattered incidents of tension and clashes in some areas, polling was largely peaceful, officials said.

Elections were conducted across the state for seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities. A total of 5.21 million voters,...