ONGOLE: Two Telugu Desam Party workers died and another was critically injured in poll-related violence reported in Kandukur division where polling was held on August 2. The TDP leaders alleged irregularities in counting of votes too.

In the first case at Narsapuram, a hamlet of Garlapet in Marripudi mandal, Arikatla Ramanaiah (25) died and Ramaswamy was grievously injured and was battling for life at the Guntur General Hospital.

Narsapuram was considered a stronghold of the Telugu Desam Party but Congress tilted the scales in its favour in the mandal and panchayat elections. The party won both MPTC and sarpanch posts in the village.

Congress leaders took out a victory procession in the village on August 2 and allegedly threw crackers at the houses of TDP workers. Incensed, TDP workers came out of their houses and picked up a row, leading to a pitched battle. Congress workers allegedly attacked TDP leaders with deadly weapons and killed Ramanaiah and injured Ramaswamy, it was said. Ramaswamy was rushed to the Guntur hospital where his condition was reported to be critical.

In the second case at Ravulakollu village of Ponnalur mandal, Kavuri Ramanaiah, a TDP sympathiser, had been missing for three days and his body was found in his fields on Thursday. His death was shrouded in mystery as there were no injuries on his body and a bottle of pesticide was lying by the side.

A case of kidnap?

Though the Congress won the MPTC post, the TDP won the sarpanch post by a margin of 73 votes in the village. Congress leaders allegedly kidnapped Ramanaiah on Tuesday, one day before the poll, in a bid to win the sarpanch post. He was set free after the polling was over. He felt dejected and so did not come home. His body was found the next day.

Ala Sivanarayana Murthi, TDP president of Marripudi, contended that the TDP had won the sarpanch post in Reddypalem village of Jarugumilli mandal by a majority of six votes. But Congress workers demanded recounting and the TDP opposed it, leading to a ruckus. Polling officials advised TDP leaders to leave the counting hall to enable them to declare the result. After the TDP leaders left, the officials declared that the Congress candidate had won the sarpanch post by one vote.

TDP leaders met the District Panchayat Officer on Thursday and expressed protest against "irregularities" in counting.

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