Violence, high turnout mark Seemandhra polling

In contrast to the Telangana elections, the second phase polling held on Wednesday across Seemandhra was marred by violent incidents, including an attack on a remote polling booth by suspected naxalites.

The voter  turnout, however, was encouraging. About 63 per cent polling was registered  by 3 pm, according to the election authorities. Polling was held for 25 LS and 175 Assembly constituencies spread across 13 districts of the region that has  36.56 million voters.

The chief electoral officer has recommended for re-polling at a remote polling station in Palakajeedi village in Visakhapatnam district as a group of suspected naxals allegedly took away electronic voting machines when the polling was under way.  

Violent clashes were reported from several districts including Guntur, Kadapa and Kurnool mainly between the supporters of YSR Congress Party and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) even as the leaders of both the parties alleged poll violations and even rigging against each other.

In Kadapa district, a police party including an ASP was attacked by villagers when they had gone to regulate the queue of voters at a polling station. Among other major incidents, TDP Narasaraopet candidate Rayapati Sambasivarao escaped unhurt when the supporters of a rival candidate attacked his vehicle by pelting stones, according to reports reaching here.

State chief electoral officer Bhanwar Lal said the polling would touch 85 per cent by the end of polling time. Unlike in the Phase one polls held in Telangana on April 30,  the polling trend in 13 districts was more or less uniform.