Barring a few incidents of exchange of words and a scuffle between the workers of ruling TDP-BJP combine and Opposition YSR Congress Party, polling to the Kakinada Municipal Corporation (KMC) went off peacefully on Tuesday.
Of the 2,29,373 voters, 1,48,598 exercised their franchise, taking the poll percentage to 64.78. The 15th division registered the highest voter turnout of 80%, while fourth division recorded the lowest turnout of 51%. Counting will be held on September 1 and the result will be declared the same day.
Polling began at 7 a.m. in all the 196 polling stations and the first objection came from the Congress camp that brought to the notice of the officials the absence of ‘NOTA’ option in some of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The officials, however, made it clear that the ‘NOTA’ was not mandatory for local body polls.
It was followed by a clash between the TDP-BJP and the YSRCP groups at the ninth division, where the BJP’s district unit president Y. Malakondaiah is representing the ruling combine in the contest. BJP MLC Somu Veerraju visited the division and the polling booths as well, which remained a cause of concern for the YSRCP group. The Opposition alleged that the TDP-BJP combine was influencing the voters by distributing cash and conducting campaign even in the polling stations. A scuffle broke out between the followers of the Mr. Malakondaiah and the YSRCP’s nominee Kampara Ramesh, which was brought under control by the police.
The voter turnout was scanty in the morning hours, but picked up by afternoon. At some polling stations, voters, who turned up aftr 5 p.m. were sent back by the officials.
Former Mayor Polasapalli Saroja cut a sorrow figure at the polling station after finding that her vote was missing from the rolls.
