The second and last phase of polling to elect Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad members in Andhra Pradesh ended with more than 80% people casting their votes.
However, the day was marred by clashes between the supporters of Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress Party at some places in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. large number of voters queued up at the polling stations throughout the day to cast their ballots. At some places voting had to continue beyond the stipulated time of 5 pm as many voters were still in queue.
Votes were polled in 536 Zilla Parishad and 7,975 Mandal Parishad territorial constituencies. Though the elections to the municipal bodies and the polls were seen as a semi-final before the lok Sabha and Assembly polls, the results will be known only when the general election end on May 7. State Election Commissioner Ramakant Reddy told the media that the voter turn out may cross 85% after the final reports come in. He said in view of the complaints of irregularities, re polling will be ordered in some places in Anantapur, Nellore, Visakhapatanam Vijayanagaram and Medak districts.
Police had to resort to lathicharge in Pondur mandal of Srikakulam district when YSR Congress and TDP workers clashed following allegations of booth rigging by the former.
In Muppala village of Guntur police arrested a YSRCP agent for pouring water in to ballot box. He was angry over one sided polling in the village in support of Telugu Desam.
In Chipurupally village of Vijayanagaram police arrested four buses where the voters were being brought who belonged to the YSRCP and Telugu Desam.