People of mandals merged in AP vote in Telangana polls

Kakinada: Certain voters of mandals in erstwhile East and West Godavari districts exercised their franchise in the Telangana assembly elections on Thursday.

Originally, people of these mandals had belonged to the Telangana area. But after bifurcation, seven mandals had been merged in Andhra Pradesh along with some villages of Burgampahad mandal to facilitate implementation of the Polavaram project.

By then, some of the people had constructed their houses in Bhadrachalam, Charla, Aswaraopeta and other mandals, which are nearest to their present residences in AP. Hence, their names remained registered as voters in Telangana.

Candidates contesting from assembly constituencies in Telangana arranged food and vehicles for such voters. Though reluctant, some of them did go and cast their votes in the constituencies where they resided and returned to their residence in AP.

“I had constructed a house in Bhadrachalam. Hence officials have included my name in the voter list there. There are many like me. We have voter cards both in AP and Telangana,” said a resident of Chinturu village. He disclosed many voters from Chinturu went to the respective polling booths of their constituencies and exercised their franchise.