HYDERABAD / MAHBUBNAGAR / KARIMNAGAR / SANGAREDDY / WARANGAL: Congress candidate Vamshichand Reddy, who is in fray from Kalwakurthy, lost consciousness after BJP workers pelted stones at him when he had gone to cast his vote at Jangareddypalle in Amangal mandal in Nagarkurnool district.
The bleeding Congress nominee was rushed to hospital.
TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy condemned the attack and claimed the TRS and the BJP were responsible for all the clashes in the State. “They are scared of a humiliating defeat and are now trying to instill fear in others,” he said.
Clashes were also reported in Kodangal constituency from where TPCC working president A Revanth Reddy is contesting.
In Vikarabad, Congress candidate from Tandur Rohith Reddy lodged a complaint with the police saying a group of persons understood to be supporters of TRS nominee P Mahender Reddy made a vain bid to attack him at Basheerabad mandal on Thursday night. “The group armed with swords and knives tried to kill us for contesting against Mahender Reddy,” Rohith Reddy said in his complaint to the police. “They abused me and said they would kill me to ensure Patnam anna’s win,” Rohith said.
In another incident, TRS workers allegedly manhandled Congress candidate from Chevella constituency at Nawabpet. “They slapped the candidate’s personal assistant and damaged his car. A case was registered against ten workers. Culprits will be arrested and produced before court,” police said.
Drama at poll booth
Workers of the two main contending parties also clashed at Dagadapally in Chinnambavi mandal of Kollapur assembly constituency in Mahbubnagar district when TRS candidate Jupally Krishna Rao entered the polling station to cast his vote.
A head for trouble
TRS and AIMIM workers exchanged blows with Congress cadre at Khanpura of Karimnagar on Friday after the tacit allies took exception to the grand old party’s working president Ponnam Prabhakar visiting one of the poling booths in the 6th division.
The violence led to TRS worker Md Irfan, 38, sustaining a wound to his head. Several police teams rushed to the area on sensing trouble and lathicharged the violent crowd to bring the situation under control.
A little later the main contending parties clashed again in Khanpura after TRS candidate Gangula Kamalakar and his followers, who were dancing on the road celebrating the TRS’ “definite victory”, came in contact with a group of Congress workers. Police Commissioner VB Kamalasan Reddy himself came down to pacify the angry workers.
Violating MCC norms, workers of various parties openly attempted to ingratiate Muslim electors. Karimnagar, is home to minority community voters — a chunk big enough to decide who’ll win and who won’t. Muslim votes are likely to be more or less equally divided between the Congress, TRS and the BLF.
House arrest
Congress candidate and former MLA T Narsareddy was on Friday put under house arrest in Wargal mandal of Gajwel constituency in Medak district. Narsareddy made his displeasure clear and asked the police why he was being detained when he was standing 200 metres away from Wargal polling centre and not violating any MCC norm. “Don’t people have the right to move freely in the public in a democracy?” he exclaimed.
At Kokkonda of Mulugu mandal under the constituency, Congress workers took on care taker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s childhood friend Jahangir saying outsiders would not be allowed inside the village until polling ended. A few clashed were reported between TRS and Congress men in Gajwel and Andole constituencies in erstwhile Medak district.
‘Go back home!’
A few Congress party workers objected to the presence of a TRS sarpanch and an MPTC member for allegedly trying to influence voters of Parkal constituency in Warangal district.
TDP workers allege foul play, stage dharna
Siddha Reddy College polling station in Khammam remained tense after several TDP workers staged a dharna accusing the TRS candidate of allowing some of his young supporters to cast multiple votes. Meanwhile, Congress and TRS workers fought it out at Nagulvoncha village in Chintakani mandal of Madhira constituency. It all started when Congress candidate Mallu Battivikramarka, TRS candidate Lingala Kamala Raj and BLF candidate Kota Rambabu entered the polling station along with supporters, People of Betalapdu in Kamepalli mandal boycotted the polls