KHAMMAM: A high voter turnout of 89.73 per cent was recorded for the byelection to Palair Assembly constituency, on Monday, where the ruling TRS, Congress and CPM were locked in a triangular contest.
Barring stray incidents, the polling was by and large peaceful. While such a huge turnout is appreciable, it is still less than the poll percentage last year which stood at 90.1.
Apart from central paramilitary forces, police from the state have been deployed as part of the security arrangements. EVMs created trouble at Bhairavunipalli and Bodulabanda polling stations and voters faced some inconvenience. Tension prevailed at Teerdala village in Khammam rural mandal when a Congress polling agent B Venkanna tried to lure voters which was objected by TRS activists who entered into an argument. Police then took the Congress polling agent into custody.
CPM candidate P Sudharshan complained to the Election Commission that an SI, who was on poll duty at Gattusingaram booth, was campaigning in favour of TRS and asking voters to cast vote to the ruling party candidate. There are 243 polling stations in the constituency, and 1,90,351 eligible voters.
The district administration made all necessary arrangements for smooth conduct of the bypolls. The results would be declared on May 19.