EXERCISING HIS RIGHT: A physically-challenged person exercising franchise at Veldurthi in Kurnool district on Wednesday. Photo: U. Subramanyam

ANANTAPUR: Sporadic incidents of minor violence, including clashes between the TDP and the Congress supporters, stone-throwing and forcible eviction of TDP polling agents allegedly by rivals marked polling in the district on Wednesday. The officials estimated the polling at around 65 per cent.

Several TDP and Congress supporters were injured in the clashes at different places. Polling was stopped in three polling stations due to pouring of ink and water by the miscreants. Police had to open fire at one place to disperse the clashing mobs.

Dharna staged

The district unit of the TDP staged a dharna in front of the Collectorate alleging large-scale rigging and other irregularities by the Congress in several mandals of Penukonda, Tadipatri and Dharmavaram constituencies.

Penukonda legislator Paritala Sunita and former TDP MP B.K. Parthasarathi alleged that the police remained mute spectators to the forcible eviction of TDP agents by Congress leaders and supporters in several polling stations.

Only 220 votes were polled of a total of 864 at a polling station at Regatipalli in Dharmavaram rural mandal till 11.15 am. Similarly, 388 votes were polled of 1,029 in a polling station at Tadimarri till 12.15 p.m.

The low turnout in the forenoon was attributed to pre-occupation of farmers and farm workers with cultivation.

An altercation between the TDP and Congressmen over polling agents' issue at Thammidepalli in Amarapuram forced Sub-Inspector G. Madhav to open fire to disperse the mobs. Several TDP and Congress supporters were injured in clashes at different places.Supporters of Congress leader and former Minister G. Nagi Reddy allegedly poured water into a ballot box at Kunukutla in Tadimarri mandal. Congress supporters also poured ink in the ballot box at Mavaturu in Penukonda mandal.

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