Gade Adilakshmi, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) candidate for the 37 division of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) had a bitter experience on the polling day. She was denied entry to the polling booth for the colour of the saree she was wearing. The police found it inappropriate to allow a contestant wearing a red saree into the polling station. Much to the surprise of the voters, the police literally drove her out of the KBN College premises, the polling station.
“The inspector strongly objected to my entry into the premises. I didn’t even go near the polling booth. And, he cited that wearing a red saree was prohibited. How can it be a violation of election code of conduct?” wondered a visible miffed Adilakshmi.
“Neither is the red saree an election symbol nor I was campaigning there. There should be some logic behind their (police) argument,” she said.
A polling agent was reported to have objected the presence of contestants at the 35 division. The police intervened soon and sent the contestants out of polling station.
Some polling stations were cramped, much to the discomfort of the voters and polling staff as well. The voters were seen making a beeline for the Mata Rajyalakshmi School in Chittinagar for voting. They complained that the facilities were not proper at the pooling booth.
