YSRC Boycotts Re-poll At Two Pulivendula Polling Stations
By-polls had been held in Pulivendula and Vontimitta ZPTCs of Kadapa district on Tuesday. YSRC has alleged rigging in a majority of polling stations, saying officials allowed TD cadres from areas other than the mandal to move in the territorial council area, while preventing YSRC leaders from moving out, including the Pulivendula ZPTC YSRC candidate
ANANTAPUR: Opposition YSRC boycotted re-polling in two polling stations within the Pulivendula ZPTC area, accusing the State Election Commission of failing to control large-scale misuse of police and officials and ensuring free and fair polling in the ZPTC polls.
By-polls had been held in Pulivendula and Vontimitta ZPTCs of Kadapa district on Tuesday. YSRC has alleged rigging in a majority of polling stations, saying officials allowed TD cadres from areas other than the mandal to move in the territorial council area, while preventing YSRC leaders from moving out, including the Pulivendula ZPTC YSRC candidate.
Following a series of complaints, the State Election Commission ordered re-polling in two polling stations Atchavelli and E Kothapalli in Pulivendula mandal on Wednesday. Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy announced that they boycotted the re-poll in just two polling stations as it is an eyewash. “YSRC had demanded re-polling in all the 15 polling stations in the Pulivendula mandal due to large-scale irregularities,” he pointed out.
Avinash Reddy alleged: “We have never witnessed such ugly political practices in the history of Pulivendula. CM Chandrababu Naidu has targeted the area, provoking his leaders and misusing the police.” The MP accused Kurnool DIG Koya Praveen of threatening YSRC leaders and cadres in villages. Officials said re-polling in the two polling stations at Atchavelli and E. Kothapalli in Pulivendula mandal had been conducted peacefully on Wednesday. Sources said the poll percentage had been 68.50 per cent in Atchavelli. 54.28 per cent of voters cast their votes in the E. Kothapalli ZPTC.