Around 45 percent polling in Andhra by-poll

Around 45 percent polling was recorded Wednesday in the by-election to Avanigadda assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh.

According to poll officials, no untoward incident was reported during the polling in the Krishna district. The polling, which began on a dull note in the morning, improved in the afternoon.

Lack of enthusiasm among voters, especially in the first few hours, marked the polling due to the absence of candidates of major parties barring the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and also the ongoing political turmoil in Seemandhra over the central government's decision to carve out a separate Telangana state.

The polling which began at 8 a.m. at 241 polling stations, concluded at 5 p.m. There are 1.88 lakh voters in the constituency.

The counting of votes will be taken up Aug 24.

The by-poll was necessitated by the death of sitting legislator Ambati Brahmaiah of the TDP. The main opposition party has fielded his son Hari Prasad.

Keeping with the tradition, the ruling Congress party, opposition YSR Congress and other major parties did not field their candidates to ensure unanimous election of Hari Prasad

However, the contest became inevitable with two independent candidates filing their nominations. Earlier, 13 independents withdrew their nominations following an appeal by the TDP leaders.