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MLA’s uncle smashes EVM; EC orders probe
MLA’s Uncle Smashes EVM; Election Commission Orders Probe. Smashing of an EVM in Ward 29 of the Macharla municipality allegedly by uncle, Lakshma Reddy, of YSRCP legislator Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy and lathi-charge by police to disperse clashing groups headed by Lakshma Reddy and his brother Venkatrami Reddy marred the polling on Sunday.
- YSRCP legislator Gurunath Reddy detained
- JC Prabhakar Reddy under house arrest
Hyderabad: Smashing of an EVM in Ward 29 of the Macharla municipality allegedly by uncle, Lakshma Reddy, of YSRCP legislator Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy and lathi-charge by police to disperse clashing groups headed by Lakshma Reddy and his brother Venkatrami Reddy marred the polling on Sunday. The Election Commission ordered an inquiry into the incident. Lakshma Reddy was reportedly arrested for damaging the EVM.
The motive for the MLA’s followers in resorting to damage of EVM was alleged bogus voting by Reddy’s supporters, one of whom was caught by Lakshma Reddy, a former legislator, and MLA’s uncle. Lakshma Reddy took officials to task, questioning how bogus voting was being allowed. Soon MLA’s brother Venkatrami Reddy came to the booth. This led to a clash between the rival supporters who were dispersed by police, making a lathicharge. Sunil kumar, IG, led the police. Prohibitory orders were clamped, after the supporters were shifted to police station.
Minor incidents
The elections went off peacefully, barring minor incidents like lathicharge on TDP and YSRCP leaders in Badvel, preventive arrest of YSRCP leader Prabhakar Reddy in Anantapur and a demonstration by MLA Tangirala Prabhakar Rao before the Nandigama municipality, in Krishna district. Rao protested alleging non-issue of the agent passes.
MLA held
Legislator Gurunath Reddy (YSRCP) and his brother Yerraswami Reddy were subjected to house arrest allegedly for terrorizing voters in a booth in Ward 20 in Anantapur. In Tadipatri JC Prabhakar reddy, brother of MLA J C Diwakar Reddy, and YSRCP leader Peram Nagi Reddy too were confined by police in their respective houses. In Madakasira of Anantapur district YSRCP leader Prabhakar Reddy was arrested allegedly for transporting voters in vehicles.
Old woman dead
A 90-year-old woman, Yashodamma of Barma Street in Madanapalli, of Chittoor district, died at her house soon after voting in a booth of 14th Ward, her relatives said. Residents of Kalyanipuri ST Colony of Puthur municipality in the district protested alleging that their voters were missing. Holding their ID cards, they squatted before the booth. They refused to leave till officials allowed them to cast their ballots.
Six injured in clash
In Kurnool district, six persons were injured when Congress and YSRCP activists clashed in Arikeri of Alur mandal, following allegations by YSRCP against Kotla Sujatamma of taking up campaigning. The YSRCP objections resulted in the clash.
Voters boycott
In East Godavari district, 100 voters belonging to Gudiwada boycotted polling in a ward of Peddapuram Municipality, alleging neglect of their 50-year-old colony which, they said, was getting submerged every year. In such scenario, they said there was no point in casting ballots. Sixty voters of Dummupeta in Ward 1 of Peddapurm too resorted to poll boycott, alleging neglect of their problems by officials since 20 years.
Protest by mayoral candidates
Rajahmundry One Town police took into custody Medapati Anil Kumar Reddy, husband of Sharmila Reddy, YSRCP mayoral candidate, for campaigning near a polling station in the Third division. Annoyed, Sharmila, along with party leaders Jakkampudi Raja and others, squatted before the police station for over one hour around noon. According to N. Babji, DSP, Reddy was let off around 2 pm after registering a bind-over case. TDP mayoral nominee Pantam Rajani Sesha Sai vent ire at for allegedly failing to distribute voter’s slips to many residents. She expressed anguish that many had turned back as they were not allowed to vote. The municipal commissioner intervened and set up counters at polling stations to distribute the slips.
Rival groups lathi-charged
In Badvel (Kadapa) there was confusion even before the polling began, as TDP and YSRCP activists protested in Ward 2. They resorted to boycott and left the booth. Husband of TDP candidate Anand accused Independent Ramesh of distributing house- sites to voters as inducement. Police lathi-charged the protestors of two groups.
TRS leader held
Telangana Rashtra Samiti leader Madhusudhanachary was arrested in Bhupalapalli of Warangal district, after complaints reached officials that he managed to secure an agent’s pass without voting rights. Motilal, RDO, assured to hold an inquiry into the issue of pass.
