Peaceful polling in byelections

By Our Special Correspondent

SIDDIPET, SEPT. 20. The voter turnout in the Siddipet Assembly byelection was impressive with people lining up before the booths since the early hours on Thursday.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer in Hyderabad, the voting percentage was 65 in Siddipet and 68 in Vuyyur where byelections were held.

The pre-poll clashes between TDP and TRS activists in Siddipet and the imposition of prohibitory orders did not dampen the enthusiasm of the voters. Polling went off briskly in the morning but slowed down by noon. There were no complaints of rigging or impersonation.

Moderate to heavy polling was recorded both in urban and rural areas of the constituency. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were used and the insistence on documentary proof to establish the identify of the voters did not pose any ``major problem,'' poll officials said.

In the 60-odd polling booths in Siddipet town, over 25 per cent of the voters cast their vote by 10.00 a.m. In the booths meant for women, male constables guarded the entrance and some women voters brought it to the notice of senior police officials. At a booth at the Government High School, an 80-year- old blind woman, Kuncham Mallavva, assisted by her grandson, had to wait for her turn as none helped her avoid the long queue. The activists of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) outnumbered their TDP rivals at a `safe' distance from polling booths.

A heavy police force was deployed to prevent any untoward incident. The town police confirmed having booked cases against the TDP and the TRS leaders in connection with alleged distribution of money to the voters and clashes between the two political groups.

The byelection turned prestigious with the TRS president, Mr. K. Chandrasekhara Reddy, seeking re-election to the Assembly from here for the fifth time.

Money distributed

Our Vijayawada Staff Reporter reports: There was about 70 per cent polling in the Vuyyur Assembly constituency byelection. Polling was slow in the first hour with most parts of the constituency facing moderate to heavy rain. No untoward incident was reported.

Voters said that both the TDP and the Congress(I) party workers had distributed money during the last two days. While the Congress workers gave Rs. 50 the TDP gave Rs. 150 for every vote. Elders in some labour colonies said that only those voters who had received money from both parties went to exercise their franchise. The others went to work as usual.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Krishna Rao, said that the Congress(I) candidate's bother (name not disclosed) was arrested when he was moving about the constituency with Rs. 40,000 in his possession. He was, however, released later on bail.

The Congress candidate, Mr. K. P. Sarathi, claimed that his brother was going about distributing the permitted sum of Rs. 500 to election agents representing him in the polling booths.

Voters said that free liquor had been flowing in the constituency for the past three days.

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