Minor incidents mar MLC polls

Hyderabad: Amid political tension, the elections for 3 MLC posts under local body constituencies for Rangareddy, Warangal and Nalgonda districts passed off peacefully on Friday in Telangana. Minor incidents were reported in Nalgonda and Rangareddy districts. The results will be declared on Monday (June 3).

Mild tension prevailed at a polling booth in Nalgonda when a group of Congress workers shouted slogans against TRS alleging that the ruling party poached some of the Congress representatives by offering loads of cash. They also accused the TRS of resorting to horse-trading on the election day.

In retaliation, the TRS workers headed by former MLA from Nakrekal assembly segment V Veerahsam took out a rally in the Nalgonda town against the Congress. Timely intervention by the police eased the tension. In another incident, followers of Nalgonda MLA K Bhupal Reddy and Congress leaders shouting slogans against each other.

In Rangareddy district, police said that TRS and Congress workers jostled with each other in many polling booths and demanded for the conduct of elections in a fair manner.

The authorities of the Election Commission said that 797 electors, out of 806, exercised their franchise in Rangareddy by registering the turnout of 98.88 per cent.

The total percentage of votes polled in Nalgonda was 98.80 per cent. Out of 1,086, 1,073 voters cast their votes. In Warangal, 883 voters (total 902) cast their vote. North Telangana district registered a poll percentage of 97.89.

After drubbing in the recently held Lok Saha elections, the ruling TRS has taken the MLC elections seriously. Party working president KT Rama Rao took the responsibility of the party's victory in the elections.

TRS candidates Pochampally Srinivas Reddy is contesting against I Venkat Rami Reddy from Warangal. Congress senior leader and MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy's wife Laxmi was fighting against TRS candidate T Chinnapa Reddy in Naglonda.

TRS fielded former minister P Mahendar Reddy against Congress candidate K Pratap Reddy. Congress is confident of retaining the Nalgonda MLC seat and is making all-out efforts to win the Rangareddy seat also.