Polling brisk, peaceful in Telangana, 8.52 percent by 9 am

HYDERABAD: Polling has been brisk and peaceful barring a few incidents of mild tension and EVM troubles in Telangana with voters lining up right from 7 am on Thursday to cast their votes. Polling is taking place in 35,655 polling booths in the State where the authorities have imposed section 144.

While the overall voting percentage as per the Election Commission of India was 8.52 percent by 9 am, the highest poll percentage was registered at Adilabad district with 13.50 percent, followed by Gadwal with 12.02 percent, Tungaturthy 11.03 percent, Jagtial 10.82 percent, Bhupalpally 10.50 percent and Bhadradri 8.33 percent.

Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj after casting his vote at Sanathnagar has urged voters to come cast their votes and said that EVMs were replaced at places where there were technical snags. He said that voters could find out the location of their polling booths using the apps advertised by the Election Commission of India.

BRS working president KT Rama Rao cast his vote at Nandini Nagar GHMC community hall. Comparing the poll process to a festival of democracy, KTR called upon urban voters to participate in the process. “It has been noted that the poll percentage in urban areas is less. All the educated people must utilise their franchise,” he said. He added that he did what was good for the State of Telangana. MLC K Kavitha too cast her vote in Nandini Nagar.

TPCC president and Kodangal Congress candidate A Revanth Reddy cast his in Kodangal, and Mohammad Azarruddin and his son Asadudduin cast their votes in Jubilee hills. BJP state president and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy cast his vote in Baglingampally and AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi cast his vote in St Faiz School in Rajendernagar.

Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar and family voted GHMC sports complex in Amberpet, MP J Santosh Kumar cast his vote in in his native village Kodurupaka, Barrelakka (Karne Sirisha) voted in Marrikkal of Kollapur constituency.

Police resorted to a mild cane charge in Khanapur of Ibrahimpatnam. Tension was reported from Jangaon. Many voters returned without casting votes as the polling staff refused to allow them saying that mobile phones were not allowed inside.