Polling for filling six Telangana Legislative Council seats in the Local Authorities’ category was peaceful in Ranga Reddy, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Khammam district on Sunday with a few Left parties boycotting it.
Briefing the media about polling, Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal said the percentage of poll was 99.74 in Ranga Reddy followed by 99.7 in Mahabubnagar, 99.1 in Nalgonda and 95.32 in Khammam.
A total of 45 voters belonging to the Left parties boycotted polling – 32 of CPI (ML) New Democracy in Khammam, 9 of CPI and CPI (M) in Nalgonda and 4 of CPI (M) in Mahabubnagar, the CEO said.
Besides, another 7 voters did note vote including 2 in Ranga Reddy (one dead, one abroad), 2 in Mahabubnagar (two disqualified), one in Nalgonda (abroad) and 2 in Khammam (reasons not known), Mr. Bhanwarlal stated. He explained that the votes polled against the total listed votes were: 769 of 771 in Ranga Reddy, 1,256 of 1,262 in Mahabubnagar, 1,100 of 1,110 in Nalgonda and 692 of 726 in Khammam. On the allegations of voters’ camps conducted by political parties, Mr. Bhanwarlal said they had forwarded all complaints to the Election Commission after preliminary enquiry and would act in tune with the directions from the commission, if any. He stated that internet streaming would be available after the ballot boxes were lodged in the strong room. The contesting candidates would be allowed to keep their representatives near the strong room, if desired.
Further, he stated that the Returning Officer of Nalgonda reported that he had issued a notice to Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy based on the enquiry report from the Superintendent of Police regarding an electors’ camp at a hotel in Tirupati and called for his explanation.
