With PRP chief Chiranjeevi and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu being attacked while campaigning in Pulivendula, the Congress and the TDP fear that a fair election in Kadapa on May 8th would be impossible.
TDP leader Y Sujana Chowdary met the officials of the Election Commission (EC) on Monday to explain the situation in Kadapa, especially Pulivendula.
On 29th April, the Congress convoy of Chiranjeevi, D L Ravindra Reddy and Y S Vivekananada Reddy (the Congress' candidate for the Pulivendula assembly seat) was attacked with eggs, stones and sticks at Pullangadi and Muddanur circles in Pulivendula.
On 30th April, Chandrababu Naidu was
attacked with stones, knives and sickles while campainging in Pulivendula.
The members of both the Congress and the TDP had expressed concern, stating that their polling agents were
backing out fearing attacks on the day of the polls.
Emerging from the meeting with the Election Commission, Chowdary informed the media personnel present that the EC had assured him that 'observers' would be placed in every Kadapa consituency on the day of the polls, and that stringent action would be taken against any person found casting fake votes.
"The EC said that they would take all the necessary measures to ensure that free and fair elections take place," said Sujana Chowdary.