Until 5 PM, Andhra Pradesh recorded 65.96% and Telangana recorded 60.57% voter turnout today (April 11). Three deaths were reported in Andhra Pradesh
Amaravathi/Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh recorded 65.96% voter turnout till 6 PM in polls conducted for 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in the first phase of elections that commenced today.
Telangana recorded 60.57% voter turnout till 5 PM. Telangana voted for 17 Lok Sabha constituencies, today (April 11). Medak recorded the highest voter turnout with 68.60% while Secunderabad registered the lowest with 39.20% polling till 5 PM. In 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected Assembly segments polling was held from 7 AM to 4 PM.
At least 15 incidents of violence including two deaths was reported in Andhra Pradesh since the commencement of polls at 7 AM.
However, final voter turn out percentage is likely to reflect a considerable increase.
Tension prevailed in Andhra Pradesh's Tadipatri Assembly constituency in Anantapur as a clash broke out between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) workers during the ongoing polling outside booth 197. The victims were identified as Sidda Bhaskara Reddy of the TDP and Pulla Reddy of the YSRCP.
Another YSRCP worker was allegedly hacked to death in Thamballapalle in Chittoor district. Five people were severely injured in the clash in Veerapuram, as per reports.
Non-functional Electronic Voting Machines also hampered the polling process across Andhra Pradesh in the morning. The EVMs were later rectified.
In Guntakal, former MLA and contesting candidate of the Jana Sena Party, Madhusudan Gupta, smashed an EVM in a fit of rage alleging that party symbols were not properly printed on the ballot unit. Gupta was immediately taken into police custody.
Andhra Pradesh holds 3,93,45,717 registered voters, including 1,94,62,339 men, 1,98,79,421 women and 3,957 transgenders. Of the total, 10.15 lakh are first-time voters in the 18-19 age group.
In Narasaraopet constituency in Guntur district, YSRCP leaders alleged that TDP men ransacked a polling station in Yellamanda village and damaged furniture.
YSRCP members have alleged that TDP supporters invaded booth number 218 at Chilakaluripet. They accused TDP workers of locking up the booth from inside and casting votes in the names of people in the voters list who are dead or missing. The Election Commission has filed a case in this regard and is looking into the matter.
Telangana
Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha who is seeking another term in the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency was gheraoed when she arrived to cast her vote on Thursday. TRS MP Kavitha was gheraoed by several women farmers questioning her for not fulfilling promises that were made in 2014. A total of 177 farmers contested against K Kavitha in Nizamabad.
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