VIJAYAWADA: Minister and Mangalagiri TD candidate N. Lokesh started a flash dharna on Thursday night to protest the Election Commission not making arrangements for hassle-free polling.
Voting was frequently interrupted at Mangalagiri, from where Mr Lokesh is contesting and it is expected that voting will go on till midnight.
When Mr Lokesh started his protest at Christianpet of Tadepalli in Amaravati, his YSRC rival Alla Ramkrishna Reddy and his supporters staged a counter-protest accusing Mr Lokesh and TD leaders of rigging.
The voters in large numbers were still standing at the 37 booths at Christianpet. They complaint to Mr Lokesh about the frequent trouble with EVMs. The minister accompanied by TD leaders rushed to the spot and questioned EC officials.
He said the EC had failed to make proper arrangements for smooth polling and had conspired to help YSRC by creating snags in the polling process. He alleged that YSRC conspired to stop TD supporters from voting. He said polling had not started in seven booths in Mangalagiri constituency till mid day.
