In less than 24 hours, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Nadu has complained twice to the Election Commission. After polling began on Thursday, Naidu, who is chief of the TDP, demanded a re-poll, alleging that 30 per cent of the EVMs in the state did not function in the first few hours.
Naidu said that a large number of people, especially the elderly and women, went back as they could not wait in the hot sun.
“It is likely that many of the voters may not come back for voting even if the polling is resumed after replacement/repair of the existing EVMs. Therefore, there is a need to order re-polling in all the polling stations where polling has not commenced up to 9.30am,” read the the letter from Naidu to the Election Commission. Naidu listed all the constituencies where polling was delayed.
On Wednesday, Naidu met Gopal Krishna Dwivedi, chief electoral officer in the state, and submitted a letter where he raised objections regarding the transfer of police officials by the EC. He termed the transfers “undemocratic and arbitrary”. After the meeting, he protested in front of the chief electoral officer's office.
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Though polling started peacefully in Andhra Pradesh, violence broke out before noon at various places. Clashes between TDP and YSRCP workers led to two deaths. YSRCP worker Pulla Reddy and TDP worker Bhaskar Reddy died in Tadipatri constituency in Anantapur district. Both the parties accused each other of resorting to vote-rigging and illegal methods inside the polling stations.
In Jammalamadugu, which is the constituency neighbouring Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's Pulivendula, YSRCP candidate for Kadapa Lok Sabha seat Avinash Reddy and Jammalamadugu MLA candidate Sudhir Reddy argued with police and officials that TDP leaders were trying to use force against their polling agents and attempting to capture booths.
In Guntur district, the YSRCP's Narasaraopet MLA candidate was injured after being attacked by his opponents. Mild tension prevailed in Arlagadda constituency in Kurnool district after YSRCP and TDP workers clashed. Till 11am, the total voting percentage was around 23 per cent in Andhra Pradesh.
