Polling was stopped at two booths in Kaluvai mandal here following detection of wrong entries in the ballot papers about the symbols and candidates’ names.
But for minor incidents, the election in the second phase polls for ZPTC and MPTC seats went on peacefully. Clashes took place between the YSR Congress and the Telugu Desam Party at a few places but they were dispersed immediately.
After the polling began, it was revealed that the symbols of different candidates were wrongly printed in the ballot papers. The election staff took it to the notice of the Returning Officer and a decision on conducting the re-poll would be taken by the Election Commission.
By 1 p.m., 75 per cent polling was completed at the Irakam island village in Tada mandal. It is reported to be one of the highest in the district.
The polling percentage also reached 59 per cent by 1 p.m. and it was 47 per cent in Chejerla mandal.
At Yachakulavaram village in Balayapalli mandal, the staff seized cash, sarees and liquor worth Rs 53,000. A minor clash between YSRCP and TDP activists was reported at Damaniluru in Sullurupeta mandal.
YSCP leader Vemireddy Kumaraswamy Reddy was put under house arrest for the day following tension over his alleged efforts to induce voters. The villagers tried to offer resistance and were ready to clash with his followers when the staff took immediate action.
At Lakshmakkapalem in Kota mandal, YSRCP leaders tried to make some voters take oath before voting, but the rival party leaders opposed the same.
Polling began half-an-hour late at Poluru in Sullurupeta mandal and the staff took steps to immediately start the process.
Chittoor Staff Reporter writes: Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad elections in Chittoor district, comprising Chittoor and Madanapalle divisions, was peaceful, barring stray incidents. By the close of the polling, the voting percentage stood over 80 per cent out of a total of 11.25 lakh voters.
Though officials made elaborate security arrangements with over 3,000 police personnel all over in 34 mandals, the contesting candidates of various political affiliations resorted to violation of poll code, clashed with the police and disrupted voting in several areas.
As a precautionary measure, the police kept senior leaders of both the parties under house arrest, and include former Srikalahasti TDP MLA Bojja Gopalakrishna Reddy, former MLA S.C.V. Naidu, former chairman of Srikalahasti temple Devasthanam Kola Mohan, and YSRC coordinator of Srikalahasti B. Madhusudhan Reddy. In Chittoor town, prominent BC leader T.G. Venktesh, alias Bullet Suresh, was kept under house arrest till evening.
Polling was affected at Vijayapuram mandal on the TN-AP border, with the YSRC cadres bringing strangers from the TN villages for the sake of impersonation. The police intervened and quelled the mobs, leading to tension for a while.
SI injuredAt Palasamudram mandal, the TDP cadres clashed with an SI, who received a minor injury. Police lathicharged to bring the situation under control.
The YSRC and TD cadres clashed at Sai Nagar Panchayat near Tirupati. Dalit voters stage protest
At Ramachandrapuram mandal, some Dalit voters staged a protest at Nadumuru village alleging that they were not being allowed to vote, but the police intervened and solved the problem.
At Yadamarri mandal of Puthalapattu constituency, the police had to avert a possible clash between the TDP and YSRC.
ASI creates flutterAt a polling booth in Narayanavaam mandal, an ASI on poll duty had created a flutter in a drunken state, but was later removed from the place. At Karveti Nagaram mandal too, the YSRC and TDP leaders entered into heated arguments.
Voters protest in Yadiki mandalAnantapur Staff Reporter writes: The second phase of the ZPTC and MPTC polls went off smoothly with untoward incidents taking place.
Voters showed enthusiasm to participate in the electoral process registering a voting percentage of around 82 percent for the second phase, following closely the first phase polling percentage.
The polling which was held for 32 ZPTC and 399 MPTC seats across 32 mandals in the district went off peacefully although a few incidents of voters protesting that their votes were not in the voter list were reported.
In the Yadiki mandal, voters sat in protest alleging that votes of close to 5,000 people were missing from the list and that their votes were deliberately taken off for political expedience.
On the other hand, polling was postponed in the polling station numbered 35 of the Singanamala Zilla Parishad segment after a few ballot papers pertaining to the Atmakur ZPTC segment were found mixed with the correct ballot papers.
Repolling would be held on April 13 for the line polling station numbered 35, pertaining to the C Bandameeda Palli village of the Singanamala ZPTC segment.
Collector D.S Lokesh Kumar and Zilla Parishad CEO Viziendira congratulated the polling staff and police officers for helping achieve the stupendous polling percentages.
Eighteen injuredKurnool Special Correspondent writes: The polling for the second phase of MPTC and ZPTC elections were marred by skirmishes and clashed between TDP and YSRCP supporters at several places.
In Mallikarjunapalli of Halaharvi mandal, two groups clashed leaving 18 injured. The trouble stated when YCP agent was accused canvassing in the polling booth.
The polling was affected for two hours in the village, which resumed after the intervention of the police. At Edula Devarabanda, Congress supporters drove the TDP agent out of the booth. At Kappatralla, both groups clashed. The police intervened and controlled the situation.
VRO assaultedAt Urukunda in Kautalam mandal, the villagers assaulted the Village Revenue Officer (VRO) accusing him of not distributing the voter slips. At Mantralayam and Valluru in Kautalam mandal, TDP and YCP supporters clashed.
At Pathikonda, the YCP and TDP workers clashed.
