More than 70% voters turn up in Kadapa

Polling at 2,726 polling stations by and large peaceful

YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy leaving a booth after casting his vote in the Pulivendula constituency of Kadapa district on Thursday.

Kadapa district registered a 71.30% voter turnout by 6 p.m. on the day of the elections on Thursday.

Though several voters reached booths at 7 a.m., many electronic voting machines (EVMs) malfunctioned, delaying the process by an hour.

Instances of EVM malfunctioning were reported from the 106th polling station in Mydukur during mock polling, 60th booth in Vontimitta, Obulapuram village in Muddanur mandal, Jillella booth in Duvvur mandal, Rameswaram in the Proddatur segment, Kamalapuram, 79th booth in Kadapa and 161st booth in Badvel.

There were instances of either the ‘fan’ or the ‘cycle’ button not functioning when pressed, which party agents brought to the notice of officials.

Violent incidents were witnessed in the Jammalamadugu, the Badvel and the Mydukur segments.

EVM damaged

A YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) agent reportedly damaged an EVM at the 126th booth at Jandlavaram village of Mydukur mandal. The booth was reportedly locked briefly to ensure the safety of equipment until the police arrived.

Telugu Desam Party district president R. Srinivasa Reddy was placed under house arrest at Lakkireddypalle and his vehicle reportedly seized by the local inspector even as he tried to convince him that he had Rayachoty Returning Officer’s permission to travel through the constituency.

YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and his mother and honorary president Y.S. Vijayamma cast their vote at Pulivendula, where later tension prevailed when TDP candidate SV Satish Reddy’s brother Vishnuvardhan Reddy squabbled with YSRCP workers.

Collector and District Election Officer Ch. Hari Kiran cast his vote in the afternoon in Prakash Nagar in the city’s 14th division.

Speaking to reporters, he said minor clashes witnessed in the Jammalamadugu and the Rajampet constituencies were quelled by the police in no time. The elections were, by and large, peaceful in the 2,726 polling stations in the district, barring some minor incidents in sensitive constituencies.

Responding to complaints of EVM malfunctioning, he said merely 4-5 machines had developed snags and were swiftly replaced.