Polling for Tirupati assembly by-election picks up

Hyderabad, Feb 13 (IANS) Polling in the by-election for Tirupati seat of Andhra Pradesh state assembly started on a dull note Friday, but picked up later.

Balloting began at 7 a.m., and about 10 percent voter turnout was recorded in the first two hours, officials said.

The start of polling was delayed at a few polling centres due to a technical snag in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

More than 2.94 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes at 256 polling centres in the constituency in Chittoor district.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair elections. More than 1,800 policemen have been deployed across the constituency.

For the first time, the election authorities have made arrangements for web casting and video recording in all the polling stations.

The by-election was necessitated after the death of sitting legislator M. Venkatramna of ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP). The party has fielded his wife M. Suguna.

Though there are 13 candidates in the fray, it is a direct fight between Suguna and Congress party's R. Sreedevi.

Main opposition YSR Congress Party has not fielded its candidate and its Tirupati unit has even extended support to Suguna as some independent candidates were claiming that they enjoy YSR Congress Party's support.

Both the parties have extended support for unanimous election of their candidates in the by-elections held for Nandigama and Allagadda constituencies during last couple of months.

Votes will be counted Feb 16.