Municipal Polls In Nellore, Prakasam See Turnout Of 53.7 To 83.45 Per Cent
YSRC leaders allege police bias, obstruction at polling stations
Polling for the urban local bodies across the erstwhile Prakasam and SPSR Nellore districts on Sunday was marked by a few stray incidents of violence and YSRC allegations of police high-handedness.
Kanigiri in Markapuram district recorded the highest polling percentage of 83.45, followed by Markapuram at 74.31 and Giddalur at 71.87 per cent. In Prakasam district, Chimakurthy recorded 73.64 per cent, Addanki 68.04 per cent and Ongole municipal corporation 53.70 per cent.
In the erstwhile SPSR Nellore district, Atmakur registered the highest turnout of 73.09 per cent, followed by Naidupeta at 69.99, Venkatagiri at 67.04, Sullurpeta at 63.72, Buchireddypalem at 60.17 and Nellore municipal corporation at 56 per cent.
Allegations of restrictions on opposition leaders visiting polling stations triggered tension in Nellore and Atmakur. YSR Congress leaders accused the police of favouring the ruling alliance and obstructing their representatives from monitoring the polling process.
Tension prevailed on the Mini Bypass Road near Ramalingapuram substation in Nellore when police intercepted the vehicle of YSR Congress Nellore city in-charge and MLC Parvatha Reddy Chandrasekhar Reddy, along with the party's chief election agent Anam Karthikeya Reddy, and prevented them from proceeding to polling booths.
The police reportedly cited instructions from higher officials and possible law-and-order concerns before serving a notice on the MLC.
Chandrasekhar Reddy questioned the action, alleging that the police were deliberately preventing opposition representatives from discharging their responsibilities. He lodged a complaint with the collector and insisted on visiting the polling booths.
In a separate incident in Atmakur, former MLA Mekapati Vikram Reddy alleged that circle inspector Gangadhar prevented the contesting candidate and YSR Congress polling agents from entering a polling station, while ruling alliance leaders were allowed inside.
Vikram Reddy said he had petitioned the SEC, collector and SP, seeking the CI's removal from election duties. Accusing the officer of favouring the ruling party, he urged the Election Commission to examine the allegations and initiate appropriate action.