The by-election for the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency saw 55% voting by 4pm today, and that for the Pulivendula Assembly constituency saw about 65% voting.
The by-election for the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency saw 55% of voters exercising their franchise by 4pm today, and the corresponding figure for the Pulivendula Assembly constituency was about 65%.
The polling for the by-elections has by and large been peaceful. However, given the high-voltage contests, "by and large" is only relative.
For example, in the Middela harijanwada in the Kasinayana mandal, Congress and YSR Congress activists attacked each other with stones, and the police had to resort to a lathicharge to disperse the fueding groups.
In Siddhareddygaripalle of Chakrayapeta mandal, it was worse - cops fired 4 rounds into the air to disperse Congress and YSR Congress activists here who were again throwing stones at each other. 2 activists were injured, and the situation is tense.
The CEO Bhanwarlal however claimed that everything is peaceful everywhere, and that there are videos being recorded of the voting proceedings everywhere. He said that 1,169 webcams had been installed, of which 1,098 were functioning.
Not everyone is pleased as punch, though. The TDP says that all those places where the webcams are not functioning happen to be places where there are no TDP polling agents, and want an investigation into it.
In fact, the TDP has a full litany of woes. They met the CEO and complained about the recall of DSPs, they want action taken against the Kadapa collector, they are frustrated that the EC hasn't been able to stop the flow of money, and they also submitted a list of polling centres where they claim the voting has been one-sided.
Not to be outdone in cribbing, Minister for Health and Congress candidate for the Kadapa MP seat Dr. D L Ravinder Reddy has said that the EC has failed completely in holding free and fair elections, and said that it doesn't take any action despite many complaints.
He said that in Jammalamadugu mandal, 12 centres saw one-sided polling, and said he'd give the list to the EC and ask for repolling.
In the line for fire from everyone, Bhanwarlal appears to be unperturbed, and has asked for proof of allegations.