The polling in Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh was marred by the sporadic incidents of violence and clashes between the two main rivals Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress Party which left at least one person dead and more than a dozen people injured.
However, it failed to dampen the enthusiasm and excitement of the voters, with more than 75 per cent of the 3.7 crore voters turning out to elect the first State Government after the bifurcation of the State along with 25 lok Sabha members.
Kadapa, the home district of YSRCP president Jaganmohan Reddy witnessed many violent incidents including attacks on the police officials on duty. Two Assembly candidates of YSRCP were also arrested in Anantapur and Guntur districts in connection with two different cases.
Despite elaborate security arrangements involving 1.2 lakh police personnel and paramilitary members, Maoists attacked a polling station in Palkagiri village in Paderu Assembly constituency and took away two electronic voting machines. local people said 35 armed Maoists were involved in this attack.
Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar lal told the media in Hyderabad that re-polling will take place in Palkagiri.
Paderu along with Araku were the two Assembly constituencies where the polling came to an end first at 4 pm, while it continued till 5 pm in eight other sensitive constituencies. Remaining 165 Assemnbly constituencies had the polling till 6 pm.
Polling was also affected by the unseasonal rain in Tirupati and Vijayawada for some time.
The Telugu Desam Party alleged that its two Assembly candidates Ramasubba Reddy in Jammalamadugu and P Sudhakar Yadav in Mydukuru came under attack from the YSRCP workers and their vehicles were damaged.
A similar incident took place in Basikpuram village of Narsaraopeta Parliamentary constituency where YSRCP workers allegedly attacked TDP candidate Rayapati Sambasiva Rao and his car was damaged.
“The district administration has failed in providing security and ensuring free and fair elections,” said Rayapati who switched his loyalties from Congress to the TDP.
Angered over the attack, TDP candidate Ramasubba Reddy staged a dharna in Jammalamadugu and additional police reinforcements were rushed there.
Two senior police officers also came under attack in these two constituencies. Special Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar and a constable in Jammalamadugu were attacked allegedly by the YSRCP workers. Another Superintendent of Police Appala Naidu also came under attacked in Devagudi village in Kadapa.
Inspector General of Police Naveen Chand strongly condemning incident said that cases were filed. “Police showed restraint to keep the situation under control,” he said.
The TDP lodged several complaints with the election commission alleging electoral malpractices and rigging against the YSRCP. But the YSRCP also made similar allegations against the TDP-BJP alliance.
In Visakhapatanam, where State BJP president K Hari Babu was pitted against Jagan’s mother Vijayalakshmi, the BJP also lodged a complaint with the city Police Commissioner and Election Commission that the YSRCP was indulging in massive rigging.
Police had to open fire in the air in Ramireddypalem in Guntur district to avert a clash between the YSRCP and TDP-BJP. Police said that the trouble started when YSRCP workers tried to push out a BJP polling agent from the booth.
Five TDP workers were also seriously injured in Rajampeta constituency of Kadapa when Jagan’s supporters attacked them. TDP candidate Mallikarjuna Reddy demanded repolling in Rajampeta.
Three persons were injured in a clash between the TDP and YSRCP in Bellamkonda in Guntur district. TDP alleged that it poling agents were forced out in six polling booths in Narsaraopeta and one sided voting took place.
YSRCP’s candidate from Ponnuru constituency in Guntur district and former Minister Venkatramanna was arrested in connection with the seizure of a large quantity of illicit liquor during the election campaign. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had stayed his order till the polling was over.
Meanwhile the Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar lal has ordered a probe in to the seizure of `3.75 crore from Siddhartha Academy in Vijayawada. The YSRCP had alleged that the money belonged to the TDP leaders.