Vijayawada: The scorching temperature is taking a toll on the health of the candidates who are busy campaigning, hopping from one place to other, with only eight days remaining for the electioneering.
Penamalur sitting MLA and Telugu Desam aspirant Bode Prasad has fallen victim to sunstroke and has been hospitalised.
Another aspirant, R. Pratap Kumar Reddy, contesting from Kavali on YSR Congress ticket, also suffered heat stroke while campaigning in Bogolu mandal on Sunday.
With the diurnal temperatures increasing everyday, in a majority of the constituencies, the candidates and their supporters are facing a lot of trouble to campaign.
Some candidates are hitting the road in the early hours and trying to end the morning session of campaigning by 10 a.m., when the sun would begin shining bright.
They are beginning the second session of campaigning at 4 pm, when the sun’s heat reduces, and continuing with their public meetings and road shows till 10 pm.
Bode Prasad was admitted to a hospital on Sunday night where the doctors began treatment and his condition is stable now.
The day temperature has gone beyond 41 degree Celsius in Anantapur, Kurnool, Kadapa, Tirupati and Nellore. hovering between 38-40 in Ongole, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Srikakulam, Tadepalligudem and Guntur.
Between 7-8 pm, one can see the roads filled with the functionaries and leaders of various parties carrying the party flags and raising slogans as the candidates are making door-to-door visits and taking out padayatras seeking votes from the public.
A manager working for a party candidate said that the temperature has been increasing in the last three days. So, the candidates are changing their campaign schedules. They are campaigning only for a few hours in the morning and for long hours in the evening.
He said that candidates are walking for 10-20 km every day to visit people in their constituencies.
