Whom the voter would prefer is the big question in the by-election to the Payakaraopeta Assembly constituency on Tuesday. No guess would be perfect, say even the local people even as the candidates and political parties made the last ditch effort on Monday.
Though the audible and visible canvassing was banned from 48 hours before the polling commenced the main contestants are trying to set right their weak points and consolidating on their strong points.
Considering the keenness of the contest and the hectic campaigning done by the three main contestants, a good voter turn-out could be expected.
With temperatures coming down during the last two days, voters would be inclined to go to the polling booths.
There are 2,02,681 voters in the constituency spread over Payakaraopeta, S. Rayavaram, Nakkapalli and Kotavuratla, with women in majority at 1,02,790.
Meanwhile, Returning Officer of the constituency B. Dayanidhi said arrangements were completed to conduct the polling in a smooth manner.
The polling officers along with EVMs were despatched to all the 231 polling stations by buses from the distribution centre located at the Mandal Complex, Nakkapalli.
The EVMs were distributed to the polling officers under the supervision of Joint Collector in-charge D. Venkata Reddy, Additional Joint Collector U.G.C. Nageswara Rao and Special Deputy Collectors.
Twenty-four additional EVMs were also made ready to meet any emergency. Mr. Dayanidhi said 24 route officers, four Special Deputy Collectors and election staff for the entire constituency, an ECIL engineer for each of four Mandals with two engineers stationed at Nakkapalli, along with a police constable, micro observer, videographer and an IIIT student to do webcasting for each polling booth would be on duty to conduct the elections.
