Truly, the general election that comes once in five years is a gala event and every edition witnesses new frills and thrills. This edition saw polling booths being transformed into marriage halls where voters were welcomed with fresh flowers and fragrant ‘athar’. Even some booths were dotted with colourful ‘rangolis’ and floral decorations thus sending a positive vibes to the voters, especially the first-timers. For womenfolk, the voting process was more like going for an outing and they emerged from their houses in their best of make-up and saris. They also began the process of making food ahead of schedule to hit the queue with gusto. They greeted each other “Mee Votu Vesara?”(Did you cast your vote?)
J.R. Shridharan
Smokers hard hit with poll holiday
The holiday declared for elections made life miserable for people addicted to smoking and chewing tobacco . Except medical shops, milk booths and small grocery stories, no other business establishment was open. A group of youth was desperately looking for a pan shop at Gannavaram to buy a pack of cigarettes but could not find anyone and wished they had enough stocks with them.
V. Raghavendra
Youth go gaga with selfies
Voting turned out to be a good occasion for many people, especially youngsters. Many were seen capturing their selfies with their friends and dear ones soon after casting their votes and displaying the indelible ink on their finger. Those who were not good at capturing their self images on mobiles were seen asking for help from passers-by outside the polling booths. A few even requested photojournalists. It was not just about selfies and taking photographs, there were also discussion about the likes and tags they received on different social networking sites.
Voters get their BP checked
District authorities have made elaborate arrangements at polling stations for the general elections this time. Tents were put up to provide shade, drinking water facility was made and chairs were also provided. One striking thing was first aid centres at several polling stations. Male and female nurses were allotted a special section at the station premises. Armed with blood pressure checking equipment, they put up a stall with medicines, bandages, tablets for cough, cold, fever and diarrhoea. Some people even made good use of the facility and got their blood pressure checked. It was a double benefit for many – voting and general check up.
S. Sandeep Kumar
EVM conks out
Polling was delayed for a while at a polling booth in Nuzvid when the light glowed only for the fan symbol no matter which key the voter pressed. Alert officials grew suspicious after four consecutive voters complained that the key that glowed was different from the key they pressed. Poll resumed only after the EVM was changed. At another EVM in a polling booth in Krishna Lanka, those who voted for the Telugu Desam, panicked and complained when the key they pressed did not emit any light. They suspected that the machine was rigged not to register votes for the TDP. But the officials did not disrupt voting and polling continued.
G.Venkataramana Rao
Peaceful polls surprise Cyberabad cops
Most of the policemen drawn to provide security at polling stations in the district were from Cyberabad Police Commissionerate. As the polls were by and large peaceful, the policemen were surprised a lot. No trouble occurred even at sensitive and hypersensitive polling booths in the district. In contrary, a few incidents were reported in Rayalaseema region, observed some policemen.
G.V.R. Subba Rao
