Voting began at the second election of Comilla City Corporation with the mayoral candidates of both Awami League and BNP in the race on Thursday morning.

The balloting in 103 polling stations across the city began at about 8:00am and it will continue till 4:00pm without any break with under an unprecedented security blanket.

Some 5,000 law enforcers deployed to guard the election areas.

A neck-to-neck fight is expected to be held between AL mayoral candidate Anjuman Sultana Sima and BNP mayoral rival and immediate past mayor Monirul Haque Sakku.

Two other mayoral candidates—Md Mamunur Rashid with ‘Table Clock’ symbol (independent) and Shirin Akter with ‘Star’ symbol (JSD)— are there in the race as the election to the mayoral post is being held along the political party line unlikely the ones of councillor’s and reserved seats.

A total of 114 candidates are there in the race for 27 general councillor posts, while 41 women are contesting the election for nine reserved seats.

In the second election, a total of 207,566 voters -- 102,447 males and 105,119 females—are expected to exercise their voting rights to elect their city mayor, 27 general councillors and nine women councillors (from reserve seats).

A total of 4,722 members of law enforcement agencies, including Police, RAB and BGB, will maintain the law and order situation in the election area.

A 24-member security team will protect each polling centre, while 27 executive magistrates and nine judicial magistrates will conduct mobile courts to check election code violations and vote fraud.

Superintendent of Police of Comilla Shah Abid Hossain said some 2,232 police members are on the election duty. They will do whatever necessary to arrange a peaceful election. Any kind of chaos will be curbed with an iron hand.

The Comilla city election is the first major election under the new Election Commission, reconstituted early February last.

Earlier, it conducted only by-polls to Gaibandha-1 constituency and election to some local bodies.