Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal on Tuesday stated that an average of 80 percent polling reported till the end of the by-elections including lone Nellore Lok Sabha constituency and 18 Assembly segments in the State.
Talking to media persons at the State Secretariat after the conclusion of by-elections, the Chief Electoral Officer said that the by-elections, by and large, passed off peacefully in the all 18 Assembly constituencies spread over 12 districts and Nellore parliament seat barring minor incidents of violence.
He said that Ramachandrapuram Assembly constituency in East Godavari district topped in percentage of voting with 86 and Tirupati constituency registered a lowest percentage of 55.
The following percentage of voting reported as per the constituency wise: Rayachoti—80, Anantapur (Urban)—65, Rayadurgam—82, Narsapuram—79, Udayagiri—75, Macherla—81, Emmiganur—76, Ongole—82, Narsannapeta—74, Payakaraopeta-82, Polavaram—75, Prattipadu—76, Rajampeta—79, Railway Kodur—74, Allagadda-80 and Parakala Assembly constituency -84.
The Nellore parliament constituency has recorded 68 percent of voting, he stated.
Compared to earlier elections, he said that the polling percentage has improved a lot in the by-elections due to awareness created by the media.
He said that a section of people have boycotted by-elections in four places—Polavaram booth number 61-62, Nellore parliament segment, Kovvur and Kavali due to certain prevailing local conditions.
Out of 5413 polling stations, he said that 5000 stations coved by web cameras.
He said that Green Technologies and Sadhana Technologies provided technical support in this regard. The commission has paid Rs 550 per polling station including software provided by these companies and manpower.
He also stated that no one has lodged a complaint seeking conduct of re-polling in any assembly constituency so far.
If any party lodges complaint seeking re-election from these places, where the polling boycotted, under Form No 17A, he said that the Commission would send that to Central Election Commission seeking its advice.
He said that the counting of votes would be taken up on June 15 at 8 am and results would be announced on the same day.
He lauded the role of media in creating awareness on the by-elections and in electorate exercising their franchise in large number.(INN)