Voters on Andhra Pradesh border to impact elections
Many villagers living on AP border have votes in both states.
Anantapur: Karnataka voters are likely to be impacted by the polling pattern in border area segments in the region.
The Lok Sabha polls are scheduled in Karnataka on April 18 while AP has Assembly and Lok Sabha polls scheduled for April 11. AP border areas of Karnataka will have impact the results following a tight contest in a majority of constituencies in the Rayalaseema region.
A large number of villages located close to the border of AP reportedly have votes in AP and also in Karnataka. Dual votes were identified in a few villages where both parties are strong and raised objections.
Eguvapalli village in Ramagiri mandal in Rapthadu segment is close to the Karnataka border and the main road of the village splits into AP and Karnataka.
Kothageri is located in AP while Eguvapalli in Pavagada taluka of Karnataka. Sources said that voters are enrolled in both states. Out of 354 villages in Madakasira Assembly segment, at least 100 are closer to Karnataka.
Similarly, Chowlur and Mydugolam in Hindupur Assembly segment have no direct access from AP roads and people have to reach the villages through Karnataka.
Previously, voters had enrolled in both states and traditionally cast votes in both states. A youth from Narnagepa-lli panchayat in Roddam mandal, located close to Nagalamadaka in Pavagada taluk observed that they had objected to at least 50 votes for remo-val from the lists during the present polls. “They are from Karnataka and got on the basis of having lands in AP,” he observed.
Rayadurgam segment is located in the borders of Bellary and Chitradurgam and impacted by Karnataka culture.
In addition, many families live in Karnataka but have votes in AP. For instance, most family members of APCC chief N. Raghuveera Reddy are voters in their native village Neelakantapu-ram gram panchayat in Madakasira segment.
Rayadurgam YSRC Assembly candidate Kapu Ramchandra Reddy’s family members reside in Bellary district of Karnataka.
The police department has set up border area check posts to control illicit activities but are unable to weed the entry of dual voters.