Brisk polling in Kuppam amidst tense atmosphere
The Hindu
Amidst reports of the possible visit of TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu to Kuppam to personally examine voting patterns at the booths, the police had deployed additional forces at vulnerable junctions.
The election to the maiden Kuppam municipality’s 24 wards was largely peaceful and a brisk 35.57% voting was reported by 11 a.m., with enthusiastic women, students, youth and elderly people turning up at the booths. Of the 25 wards, one ward was made unanimous to the YSRCP in Chittoor. All the 48 polling stations saw huge voter-turnout, standing in queue lines. The voting which got slacked from noon is expected to pick up from 2 p.m. onwards, with a projection of over 80% polling.
Amidst reports of the possible visit of TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu to Kuppam to personally examine voting patterns at the booths, the police had deployed additional forces at vulnerable junctions.
The police made a mild lathi-charge to disperse a mob of TDP cadres at the local party office in Kuppam. The local leaders alleged that though they had stopped two buses carrying outsiders into Kuppam and informed the police, they were allowed to disperse towards the polling booths. Cadres of both sides were seen distributing biryani packets to the public at several wards.