Awami League mayoral candidate Anjum Sultana Seema and her contestant Bangladesh National Party (BNP) aspirant Monirul Haque Sakku cast their votes as the Comilla City Corporation Election began on Thursday morning.

Anjum Sultana Seema cast her vote at Comilla Modern Primary School center at about 9:15am.

On the other hand, BNP candidate and former mayor Monirul Haque Sakku exercise his franchise at Hocchamia High School Centre at about 9:30am.

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

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).