Braving the summer heat, a good number of voters turned up to the polling booths to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the ZPTC, MPTC elections in Srikakulam district on Friday. The mercury that hovered around 40 degrees Celsius could not deter the voters, who were seen standing in the sun at the polling stations, waiting patiently in queues for their turns.
By 2 p.m., Tekkali and Sompeta mandals registered 61 per cent polling. As many as 68 candidates were in fray for 20 ZPTCs against the 827 for 358 MPTC seats in the second phase of polls in the district. Though 345 segments were identified as sensitive, the law and order was under control.
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Tight security was in place in 14 Naxal-dominated areas and video footage had been collected from all the 1,120 polling stations. The district administration heaved a sigh of relief with the peaceful completion of the elections.
The YSRC and the TDP were equally confident of winning the ZPTC and MPTC seats in the district. The TDP, which had lost the ZP Chairperson’s post in the previous election, was hoping to wrest the seat this time. The party leaders hoped that their candidates would to do well in Kanchili, Sompeta, Itchapuram, Bhamini, Sarubujjili and Amadalavalasa. “We’ll win majority of the seats and develop rural areas which have been neglected all these years,” said the TDP Srikakulam unit president Chowdary Babji.
The YSRC leaders, meanwhile, claimed that the party’s strength had improved remarkably in the last few months. YSRC Srikakulam wing president D. Krishnadas said the party performance in local body elections was quite good and expressed hope that a similar pattern would continue in the general elections too.
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ONGOLE Staff Reporter adds: Voters skipping polls on the pretext of one reason or the other is a common phenomenon, but for 68-year-old Sk Daryadi, who underwent surgery on her eye and leg recently, casting her vote came first, then her health condition.
As doctors advised her to take a complete bed-rest post surgery, Ms. Daryadi, a native of Madipaddu in Prakasam district, who has not missed a single poll, found her way to exercise her franchise in the last phase of ZPTC, MPTC polls on Friday. Her relatives carried her on a coat and reached the polling station by an auto-rickshaw. Despite an illiterate, Ms. Daryadi is certainly an inspiration for all, when it comes to cast vote during polls.
More than 84 per cent polling was recorded in the phase-II of MPTC/ZPTC elections, which were held amid tight security in Prakasam district on Friday. Barring minor incidents, the polling passed off peacefully, said Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer A. Prasad. The polling process was webcast by 132 engineering students at hypersensitive stations.
Polling was delayed by three hours at four booths in Mallavarapadu, Sivapuram and Naidupalem, as the symbol of an Independent candidate was found to be wrongly printed. Officials printed fresh ballot papers, and polling commenced at 10.00 am and continued till 6.30 p.m, Collector G.S.R.K.R. Vijaykumar said.
YSRC, TDP cadre clashMeanwhile, YSRC and TDP activists came to blows at Tangavarapadu in Addanki mandal, Sivramapuram agraharam in Taluru Mandal and Juvvikonda in Marripudi mandal. Nearly 16 per cent votes were cast in the first two hours, and the polling percentage touched 33.48 per cent by 11.00 a.m. and 71.46 per cent by 3.00 p.m., as people patiently waited in long queues undeterred by the scorching heat.