Graduates’ MLC election: Re-polling peaceful at two centres in Tirupati

Tirupati: Re-polling for the Prakasam-Chittoor-Nellore Graduates’ constituency for the Legislative Council, held at two polling stations in Tirupati city, passed off peacefully on Wednesday.

Some 46.39 per cent voting was registered at the two polling centres till 4 pm but polling continued even after the closing hours. According to an official statement, 49.57 per cent voter turnout was recorded at polling station 229 at government girls high school in Chinna Bazaar Street, while station 233 at Z.P. high school in Satyanarayanapuram registered 44.07 per cent turnout till 4 pm.

Re-polling had been ordered at these polling stations following bogus voting complaints during Monday’s polls.

District collector and election officer Venkataramana Reddy said that the re-polling in stations 229 and 233 of Tirupati city ended peacefully.

The CPI, CPM and Progressive Democratic Front alleged that the re-polling too witnessed large scale rigging amid the “high drama created by the ruling YSRC cadres.” The policemen turned mute spectators and acted tough on opposition party workers.”

The counting of votes for the Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituency would take place on Thursday.

Returning officer and Chittoor collector Hari Narayanan said in a statement on Wednesday that the counting will start at 8 am. A total of 916 duty staff, apart from security personnel, was deployed for the counting in two centres in Chittoor.

 “Counting of votes for Teachers’ MLC will be held at the RVS Law college and the counting for Graduates MLC at RVS Engineering College. Around 40 tables were arranged for counting of Graduates’ MLC votes and 14 tables for teachers MLC. About 193 supervisors, 551 counting assistants, 172 micro-observers will take part in the counting procedures,” the RO explained.