As it was curtains for the high decibel poll campaign on Monday, it is learnt that the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in four faction-ridden segments of Pedakurapadu, Macherla, Gurazala and Vinukonda will be completed by 5 p.m., an hour earlier than in the other constituencies in the district. However, polling will start in all segments from 7 a.m. on May 7.
Guntur has emerged as a key region with the Richie Rich entering the fray. The combined assets of four candidates in the fray for Lok Sabha polls--Galla Jayadev (TDP-Guntur), V. Balashowry (YSRC-Guntur), Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy (YSRC-Narsaraopet) and Rayapati Sambasiva Rao (TDP-Narsaraopet) alone make it more than Rs.1,300 crore.
Meanwhile, Rival camps of both Mr. Jayadev and Mr. Balashowry, have launched a vitriolic campaign against each other through out the campaign on allegations over land encroachment and corruption.
Apart from the candidates who tried their best to reach out the masses, their family members and relatives also put their best foot forward to woo voters. Galla Padmavathy, wife of Mr. Jayadev and his sister Galla Ramadevi hot the road, drumming up support for the TDP. Balashowry’s wife and his sons also campaigned tirelessly.
Police on alertAmid this hubbub, what is worrying the officials is the dubious distinction of the district in cash and liquor seizures ahead of the polls. A total of Rs.10.32 crore has been seized and 9,673.62 litres of IMF, 804 litres of beer and 7,357 litres of ID arrack have also been confiscated by officials. The arrest of former MLA and YSRC candidate Ravi Venkata Ramana also escalated the tension. Mr. Ramana who secured bail in a case relating to seizure of spurious liquor, was later arrested in a criminal case of intimidation. Sporadic clashes in Sattenapalli, Pedakurpadu and Macherla segments also have kept the police on tenterhooks.
