ONGOLE: Barring minor incidents, polling went off peacefully in the Legislative Council election held in Prakasam district on Saturday.

While 96 per cent of voters cast their vote in the local authorities constituency, only 80 per cent exercised their franchise in the teachers' constituency. The turnout stood at 53 per cent in the graduates' constituency.

Finance Minister K. Rosaiah cast his vote in the Chirala Municipality. MPTC of Bodduvaripalem in Santanuthalapadu Assembly constituency P. Bhaskara Rao showed the ballot paper to officials after casting his vote. Officials seized the ballot paper for violating secrecy, declared it invalid and sealed it in an envelope.

At Vetapalem, TDP leaders protested against alleged partisan attitude of the Mandal Development Officer. They complained that she did not allow the election agent of the independent candidate Vallepu Raghavulu in the local authorities constituency into the polling station.

Re-poll sought

TDP district secretary P. David Raju filed a complaint with Election Observer Sunil Sharma demanding a re-poll. Mr. Sharma assured him that an inquiry would be held into the complaint. As Martur MLA Gottipati Ravikumar tried to enter the polling booth at Santamagulur along with several party workers, the police prevented them leading to an altercation. Ongole MP Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy expressed confidence to win the local authority seat with a comfortable margin as the Congress enjoyed three-fourths majority among ZPTCs, MPTCs and municipal councillors.

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