Barring a few incidents, polling in erstwhile Medak district went off peacefully on Friday.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, along with his wife cast his vote at Chintamadaka, his native village in Siddipet mandal. Similarly, Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao cast his vote in Siddipet.
Speaking to the media at Chintamadaka after casting his vote, Mr. Rao said people are turning up in large numbers to polling booths and it will be a positive vote for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). “We will implement more welfare schemes in the next five years,” he said.
Former MLA T. Narsa Reddy was forced by police to stay at home in Wargal and was warned he would be booked if he violates the rules as Section 144 was in force. The police argument was that he would be accompanied by followers which would create some problem.
There was heated argument between Congress and TRS workers at Bandamylaram in Mulugu mandal. In Kokkonda village of the same mandal, some locals raised slogans against Jahangir, a close associate of KCR. Tension prevailed for sometime at Narsapur when there was heated argument between TRS and Congress workers.
At many places, EVMs malfunctioned resulting in delay in the commencement of polling. In one polling booth at Kandi, the EVM was changed thrice as the earlier ones failed to perform. Further, as VVPAT slips were not available, polling was stalled for more than half an hour at Choutampally village in Kangti mandal of Narayanakhed constituency. It was reported that at about 60 places booth officials faced problems with EVMs. However, they were replaced and polling resumed. At many places, voters queued up at the polling stations from 7 a.m. and polling was brisk till noon, which slowed down later. However, it had picked up in the evening.
At many places TRS activists were seen asking voters to vote for their party whereas Congress workers were not present.