Faulty EVMs delay election proceedings in AP; polling goes on

Press Trust of India  |  Amaravati 

Polling went on in over 300 booths late into Thursday night in different districts of as faulty hampered voting during the day.

Though the scheduled polling time ended at 6.00 PM, voters in the queue waiting outside the booths were allowed to exercise their franchise.

had said that even if it was midnight, those in the queue by 6.00 PM would be allowed to cast their votes.

Till 6.00 PM yesterday, over 74 per cent voting was recorded for 175 assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

In more than 380 booths, technical glitches in hampered polling during the day, resulting in scores of voters having to return home after a long wait.

After authorities rectified the defects and replaced some of the faulty EVMs, the resumed.

Voters who reached polling stations before the scheduled close were allowed to fulfil their obligation.

Chief N Chandrababu Naidu's son Nara Lokesh, who is contesting the seat, staged a protest at a polling station in Tadepalli town late Thursday night, alleging lack of provision of basic facilities for the voters.

He alleged that voters were made to wait in queue for hours because and VVPATs did not function and they were not even provided drinking water.

The was jeered by opposition YSR workers. They raised slogans asking Lokesh to "go back" and not disturb the

Tension prevailed at the polling station as TDP workers tried to hit back.

Guntur Urban SP reached the spot and asked Lokesh to leave. The remained adamant and picked up an argument with the officials, saying he was a and had every right to be there

However, police dispersed the two sides soon.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, April 12 2019. 15:25 IST