The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : ‘No change in location of polling stations’

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

‘No change in location of polling stations’

Special Correspondent

Joint Collector meets representatives of political parties

Electoral exercise: Joint Collector M. Girijasankar hearing objections being put forth by TDP district president S. Raghurami Reddy at a meeting with political parties’ representatives in Kadapa on Saturday.

ADAPA: Joint Collector M. Girijasankar on Saturday ruled out change in location of polling stations in accordance with the directive of the Election Commission.

Addressing a meeting here with political party representatives on objections to set up of new polling stations in view of the delimitation of constituencies, he said the polling stations already set up would continue.

New polling stations would be set up at places where the number of voters exceeds 1,350, he said.

He assured to examine objections put forth by political parties on setting up polling stations.

Telugu Desam Party district president S. Raghurami Reddy said three polling stations were set up on one premises at Chiyyapadu in Chapadu mandal and said three stations were not needed as voter strength is only 1,850.

TDP’s Proddatur constituency in-charge M. Linga Reddy wanted change in the polling station set up before Proddatur MLA N. Varadarajulu Reddy’s residence.

Former Minister P. Ramasubba Reddy said five polling stations in the 15 and 16 wards in Jammalamadugu were set up near Jammalamadugu MLA C. Adinarayana Reddy’s office and wanted them located elsewhere.

Congress Member of Parliament of Rajampet A. Sai Pratap, Congress MLA of Lakkireddipalle G. Mohan Reddy and CPI(M) district secretary B. Narayana also put forth objections on location of polling stations.

District Congress Committee president A. Amarnatha Reddy, BJP Mahila Morcha leader C. Sarada, Lok Satta district president P. Venugopal, BSP leader A. Mallikarjuna, Rajampet RDO Easwaraiah and Tahsildars of constituency headquarters participated.

Plea for bifurcation

Earlier, addressing a press conference here, Telugu Desam MLC M. Venkatasiva Reddy and former Member of Parliament S. Ramamuni Reddy demanded bifurcation of polling stations so that each has around 800 voters.

Fifty-six polling stations have 1,000 to 1,300 voters and any disturbance could lead to fall in polling percentage and give scope for electoral malpractices, they said.

In all, 193 polling stations were set up for 1.75 lakh voters in Kadapa, they said and wondered why 202 polling stations were set up for 1.52 lakh voters in Kamalapuram constituency.

TDP Kadapa constituency in-charge K. Sivananda Reddy objected to 1,350 voters being allotted to one polling station on an average and wanted voter strength in each polling station limited to 700 to 800.

Polling stations should be located in Government offices or schools, rather than on private premises, he said.

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