Kerala - Alappuzha   

75.24% polling in Alappuzha

ALAPPUZHA: Polling for the Alappuzha Assembly bypoll was peaceful on Saturday barring minor incidents of clashes between Congress and Left supporters.

Though official confirmation was yet to come in at 7 p.m., reports from the 104 polling booths in the constituency pegged the polling percentage at 75.24 per cent. The percentage at 3 p.m. was 61.

Polling was brisk in the early hours, with 15 per cent of voters exercising their franchise by 10 a.m. Slight showers, which continued late into the evening, did not deter voters who queued up at polling booths well after the deadline of 5 p.m.

Activists of the CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) clashed at the St. Michael’s School in Thathampally. Sources said a group of persons arrived at the booth in an auto-rickshaw and beat up the LDF polling agent.

LDF activists retaliated by attacking the UDF booth near the school.

Three persons are reported to have sustained minor injuries in the clash. One of them was admitted to hospital.

A police team led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police dispersed the groups. UDF leaders alleged that a Congress councillor was beaten up.

However, District Collector and Electoral Officer P. Venugopal said the police team on the spot had not got any information about such an incident. Minor tiffs were reported from the Pazhaveedu area as well. Witnesses said an argument ensued when K.C. Venugopal, MP, arrived to vote.

LDF activists alleged that he was canvassing votes, following which UDF and LDF activists clashed.

Later, LDF activists surrounded Mr. Venugopal’s residence in the area after he complained to the police that a vehicle of the LDF was shuttling voters to polling booths. The situation was brought under control by 7 p.m.

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75.24% polling in Alappuzha

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