The polling for Narayankhed byelection held on Saturday was smooth and peaceful with 81.72 per cent voters exercising their franchise, higher than the percentage of 78.17 of general elections held in 2014. At many places, voters began to wait in long queues to cast vote even before polling stations were opened. Counting would be conducted from 8 a.m on February 16.
Polling registered 11.25 percent by 9.a.m. increased to 39.78 per cent at 11 a.m., 58.43 per cent at 1 p.m., 73.47 per cent at 3 p.m. and 75.71 at 5 p.m. Some migrant labourer had returned home in specially arranged vehicles to their villages to participate in voting. At Peddashankarampet at least two women complained that their votes had been removed.
Polling was conducted at 286 polling stations and at three places electronic voting machines (EVMs) faced technical snag – two during mock polling and one during polling and they were replaced immediately.
Giving details at a press conference here on Saturday evening, District Election Officer and Collector D. Ronald Rose said no law and order problem arose during polling. At 141 polling stations, polling was webcast followed by web-recording at the remaining polling stations. After the end of polling, EVMs were moved to strong rooms and four CC cameras were being fitted through which live streaming would be available round the clock till the date of counting. Representatives of political parties were being provided a room where they could watch live streaming.
All the three candidates of main political parties — P. Sanjeeva Reddy of the Congress, M. Vijayapal Reddy of the Telugu Desam Party and M. Bhupal Reddy of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti — cast vote.
