Polling in the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency which attracted the national attention following the mass nominations by farmers in protest against the alleged apathy of both the Central and State governments passed off peacefully without a single incident of violence on Thursday.
Polling, which began on a dull note, picked up after a couple of hours and a total of 68.10% was recorded, which is just 1% below the previous (2014) figure. Voters who were in queues at the polling station premises even after 6 p.m. were allowed to caste vote.
In view of the large number of 185 contestants, polling time was fixed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the constituency. At Nalluru, in Mupkal mandal, at polling station no. 4, and at polling station nos. 150 and 151 in Hasakouthur village, polling was delayed by two hours.
In the villages, voters got confused and were unable to identify symbols properly. As soon as they entered the polling station, some walked straight to the VVPAT, which was placed in the middle of the EVMs arranged in the “L” shape. They pressed the buttons without clarity in the EVMs close to the VVPAT.
At many villages in Armoor and Balkonda Assembly segments, voters of farmer families voted for farmers contesting the election. Voters did not show interest in casting vote in the first hour and therefore just 3.60% votes were polled by 9 a.m. Polling slowly improved, and by 11 a.m., it was over 13%.
Member of Parliament K. Kavitha cast her vote at her in-laws’ village, Pothangal in Navipet mandal of Bodhan segment, and she expressed displeasure at the facilities at the polling station. She had to stand in queue for 40 minutes with the poll process being slow.
Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Dharmapuri Srinivas and Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy cast their vote in Nizamabad and Banswada respectively.
At Renjal mandal headquarters, some women voters who were in the queue at a polling station, asked Ms. Kavitha about the TRS promise of double-bed room houses.