Barring Some Skirmishes, Polling Peaceful Across State

HYDERABAD: Barring a few incidents that forced police to take into custody some miscreants following mild clashes at polling stations, polling went off peacefully across the state on Thursday. Clashes were reported between BRS and Congress activists in many places while BSP staged a protest at Sirpur alleging that BRS activists had resorted to rigging.

In Kamareddy, BRS leaders and activists objected to the presence of A. Kondal Reddy, TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy's brother, at polling stations. They took away the vehicle in which he had travelled. Later, Kondal Reddy informed the police that he was an authorised agent for the Congress and had the right to visit any polling station.

In Medak, clashes took place between Congress and BRS activists at polling station No. 131 in Medak town. Trouble started when Congress candidate Mynampally Rohit's wife Sivani’s car was detained by the ruling party activists. Sivani alleged that it was after casting her vote in Korvpalli and proceeding to Medak that the BRS activists tried to attack her car.

Police resorted to lathicharge on voters, who questioned BRS candidate Rega Kantha Rao at Manuguru polling station in Bhadradri district. It was while the situation was turning serious that police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob.

In Palair, police caned BRS and Congress activists after the former made abusive comments against Palair Congress candidate Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy. When BRS candidate K. Unpender Reddy visited Kusumanchi polling station, Congress activists made objectionable comments. In a reversal, when Srinivasa Reddy visited the polling station, BRS activists made similar comments. As the BRS and Congress activists gathered at the place, police dispersed the mob by resorting to lathi-charge.

In Sangareddy, Congress candidate T. Jagga Reddy staged a protest at a police station after police detained several Congress leaders ‘illegally’.