Andhra Pradesh   

Clashes, rigging bid, lathicharge mar polling

Special Correspondent

64 per cent cast vote in municipalities and 57 per cent in corporations

HYDERABAD: Clashes between Congress and TDP workers, protests against attempts by rivals to rig and lathicharge by the police at many places marred the elections to 96 municipalities and 11 corporations in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday. More than 64 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in municipalities and 57 in corporations.

Poll-related clashes were reported at several places, including Karimnagar, Khammam, Kurnool, East Godavari, Chittoor districts besides Vijayawada, Jagayyapet, Kadapa, Prodattur, Nizamabad and Warangal. Congress MP G. V. Harsha Kumar allegedly attacked a police sub-inspector in Amalapuram while Vijayawada MP L. Rajagopal was involved in a wordy duel with police officers.

State Election Commissioner A. V. S. Reddy ordered the police to book cases against Mr. Harsha Kumar and two Congress MLAs-- Anam Vivekananda Reddy and Ramanarayan Reddy-- in Nellore for allegedly involved in an assault on TDP leader and mediapersons. He said the clashes were minor in nature. Moderate-to-heavy polling was reported with Bobbili and Sathupalli towns recording a high 80 per cent. Rain affected polling in Ongole, Khammam and a few other places. The Telugu Desam Party turned the spotlight on Pulivendula, forming part of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's constituency when it staged a dharna in front of the State Election Office here demanding repolling.

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