Faulty EVMs hamper polling

Rajamahendravaram: From surrounding villages of the city, men and women came to the polling stations to exercise their franchise in the first hour. But many of them returned as EVMs in some areas not worked properly.

Mock polling was conducted from 5:30 am to 6:30 am in all polling booths and polling was commenced from 7 am. In Konthamur village, tension prevailed for some time due to arguments between Jana Sena Party and Telugu Desam Party. It was alleged that TDP activists prevented JSP men from showing symbol Tea Glass and pulled them out from there.

With this, JSP activists staged a protest on the road and demanded that TDP MP candiadate Maganti Roopa tender apology. Later, rural MLA candidate Gorantla Buchaiah Choudary entered into the scene and pacified the activists of two parties.

In Dosakayalapalli village, polling started one hour after scheduled time at 8 am due to EVM problem. In Srirampuram, Rajanagaram and Palacharla villages women turnout was heavy in the morning and some women brought their kids to cast their vote.