YSRC candidate Tatireddy Thulasi was elected Jammalamadugu Municipal Chairperson, while TDP councillor Mulla Jani was elected vice-chairman in draw of lots on Sunday.
T. Thulasi (YSRC) and Lakshmi Maheswari (TDP) were in fray for the post of Municipal Chairperson and TDP’s Mulla Jani and T. Suryanarayana Rao for that of the Vice-Chairman. In-Charge District Collector M. Rama Rao took up the draw of lots in the presence of senior IAS officer and Election Observer Sandeep Kumar Sultania, as the YSRC and the TDP polled 11 votes each, leading to a tie. Nine municipal councillors and Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy and Jammalamadugu MLA C. Adinarayana Reddy, ex-officio members, voted for the YSRC while 11 TDP councillors voted for the ruling party. Mr. Rama Rao declared Ms. Thulasi and Mr. Mulla Jani elected, handed them over the letter of election and administered oath of office to them. Kadapa SP G.V.G. Ashok Kumar, Jammalamadugu Municipal Commissioner Mallikarjuna and tahsildar Venkata Reddy were present.
The election, which was put off on July 3 and 4 due to law and order problems leading to police firing, amid allegations of Mr. Mulla Jani’s kidnap, passed off peacefully Sunday. Mr. Jani, who was traced by the police in Goa, denied in court that he was kidnapped.
Tight security A posse of 700 police personnel were deployed as part of the bandobust and around 100 persons were taken into preventive custody. Prohibitory orders under the Section 144 were also enforced and movement of people in groups was restricted. Four check-posts were put up and the police checked vehicles before allowing them into Jammalamadugu town.
