Apprehensions about violence breaking out in Rayalaseema came true as clashes between activists of the YSR Congress and TDP marred the polls on Wednesday.
Notwithstanding the unprecedented security, supporters of the YSRC and the TDP attacked each other near polling stations and on streets leading to polling booths on Wednesday. At several places, clashing groups threw stones at each other. However, overwhelmed by the high percentage of polling, chief ministerial aspirant, YSRC chief Jaganmohan Reddy said his party would sweep the elections, while another chief ministerial aspirant from the region N. Chandrababu Naidu filed a plethora of complaints to the Election Commission alleging violation of model code by the YSRC.
While Mr. Jagan’s win in Pulivendula Assembly segment is a foregone conclusion, Kuppam, represented by Mr. Naidu, registered a huge 80 per cent voter turnout by the time polling came to a close in the evening.
In Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district, a police contingent led by an additional SP was attacked by angry mob. Inspector General of Police Surender Babu said a case has been registered and that they are on the lookout for the attackers. YSRC workers allegedly attacked TDP candidate in Jammalamadugu Assembly constituency Ramasubba Reddy. Two TDP polling agents were also kidnapped.
Angry YSRC activists assaulted some mediapersons in Nadavaluru village in Chittoor district when they were heading towards the village. Clashes were reported from Anantapur and Kurnool districts also. A few stray incidents were reported from Proddatur and Mydukur Assembly segments in Kadapa district. Seven workers of YSRC and TDP were injured in Proddatur and Mydukur.
The tail-end Chittoor district compromising 14 Assembly segments, however, witnessed heterogeneous fight among the political parties. While the contest was mainly between the TDP and the YSRC in 13 segments, fight in Piler is mainly between Jai Samaikyandhra Party (JSP) represented by N. Kishore Kumar Reddy and YSRC candidate Chintala Ramachandra Reddy. Surprisingly, JSP founder, former Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who represented Piler, had opted out of the fray this time.
In Nellore city and Nellore rural segments, the polling percentage rose to 65 per cent. This was far better in comparison to 54 per cent polling in the 2009 elections. Two electronic voting machines had to be changed in Gudur and Sarvepalli Assembly constituencies in Nellore district after they developed technical problems.
