SEC claims peaceful municipal polls amid clashes, bogus voting attempts

The Telangana municipal elections witnessed clashes, bogus voting attempts, and allegations of police bias, yet the State Election Commission maintained that polling was largely peaceful. The final turnout stood at 73.01 per cent.

Hyderabad: Despite widespread incidents of bogus voting attempts, clashes between BRS, Congress and BJP leaders over misuse of power, distribution of money, complaints of police favouring the ruling party and other issues, the State Election Commission claimed that the municipal elections passed off peacefully across the State.

The final polling percentage, when reports last came in, was pegged at 73.01 percent. This was likely to be updated, officials said. Earlier, polling commenced on a sluggish note in 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations. Elections were held in 2,996 wards and, till 3 pm, the overall polling percentage stood at 62.55 per cent, with 3.26 lakh voters exercising their franchise.

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However, as polling gathered pace, clashes between BRS and Congress leaders were reported from several places as BRS workers objected to Congress leaders campaigning or trying to induce voters or encourage bogus voting.

Police resorted to a lathi-charge in the 58th division of Karimnagar town when two groups clashed at a polling station after a voter complained that her vote had already been cast. In the 15th ward of Nagarkurnool, BRS leaders accused Congress leaders of encouraging bogus voting, alleging that two women were involved.

Similarly, a Congress leader was allegedly caught red-handed while distributing money to a few people near a polling centre in the 12th ward. Congress Working President T Jagga Reddy threatened to attack a police inspector in the 34th ward of Sangareddy municipality.

The former MLA warned that he would stop polling, accusing the police of grabbing the collar of a Congress candidate. BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind allegedly abused police officials at a polling station after a BJP candidate was reportedly sent out of the polling centre.

Tension prevailed among candidates and confusion gripped voters in the 45th division of Mahabubnagar Corporation after a change in the serial numbers on ballot papers came to light.

In Yellareddy municipality, BRS leaders squatted on the road in protest against the alleged conduct of police officers and their favouring of the ruling Congress party.

In a similar incident at Devarkonda in erstwhile Nalgonda, BRS leaders argued with Congress leaders over alleged misuse of power and police support to the ruling party.

Speaking to the media, State Election Commissioner I Rani Kumuduni said that though polling commenced sluggishly, it was expected to increase by the end of the day. Save for a few sporadic incidents, polling by and large passed off peacefully, she said.

Polling commenced at 7 am and continued beyond 5 pm at a few places. Voters standing in queue were permitted to cast their votes. Counting of votes will commence from 8 am on Friday at 136 centres and results will be declared accordingly.

Earlier, BRS working president KT Rama Rao and BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao said the ruling Congress was engaged in large-scale misuse of power during the municipal elections.

Rama Rao said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was resorting to abuse of power out of fear of defeat. The Congress was worried about a repeat of its setbacks in the panchayat polls, he said, adding that the Congress was looting public money and misusing it to influence the electoral outcome.

BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar criticised the Telangana police for failing to act against Jagga Reddy over his misconduct with police personnel and demanded the immediate arrest of Jagga Reddy.