Andhra witnesses 68% polling in first phase

The chief electoral officer of Andhra Pradesh, I V Subba Rao has put the percentage of polling in the state in the first phase at 68%.

While the state capital Hyderabad recorded lowest polling of 54%, the highest 75% was in Medak where film actress Vijayshanti was the candidate of the Telganana Rashtra Samiti backed by the Telugu Desam Party and the Left parties.

Warangal and Mahbubabad (SC) recorded 70% each, Vizianagaram 68%, Adilabad (ST) 65%, Visakhapatana, Mahbubnagar and Nagarkurnool (SC) 64% each, Nizamabad, Zaheerabad, Chevella, Anakapalle and Khammam 62% each, Araku (ST) 61, Malkajgiri, Nalgonda and Bhongir 60%, Karimnagar 57% and Peddapalle (SC) and Secunderabad recorded 56% polling.

Meanwhile, in an unusual phenomenon, polling was continuing in some of the constituencies in Andhra Pradesh even after 6 pm. The election officials in Hyderabad said that the polling was being allowed at some place beyond the scheduled time of 4 pm because of various reasons.

Election staff reached late at some of the remote places due to which polling started late. "Accordingly the time limit has been extended", a senior official said.

Similarly polling started late at some places due to snags in the electronic voting machine and this also had to be compensated.

"We are allowing all those persons to vote who joined the queues before 4 pm", said Chief Electoral Officer I V Subba Rao.

According to a report from Vizianagaram, polling was going on at the polling station of Morakamudidam mandal even after 7-15 pm, and there were still 200 people standing in the queue.

Polling at some places was also disrupted due to the power cuts, the reports .