EVM snags, power cuts delay polling

HYDERABAD: The byelections held for seven assembly  constituencies on Sunday recorded an overall poll percentage of 67.EVMs played spoil sport at places like Mandapur and Rajapur villages in Kamareddy constituency, Gorita and Avurashpalli in Nagarkurnool, Chanda (T) in Adilabad constituency, Rajapur, Veepanagandla and Pedamarur in Kollapur constituency and many other places delaying polling for a couple of hours. Power cuts marred polling at a few stations like Bibinagar in Kamareddy constituency.Congress, TDP, TRS and YSR Congress activists indulged in heated arguments at a few places. Altercations were reported between Congress workers and the followers of Nagam Janardhan Reddy in Nagarkurnool. There were reports of voters’ names missing in all the seven constituencies - 300 votes were missing at Chanda (T) of Adilabad. Voters at Sripurandharapuram of Kovur constituency boycotted polling demanding a solution to the problems in the village. They relented after assurances from officials. The Election Commission allowed all voters who arrived at polling stations before 5 pm to cast their votes resulting in continued polling at some stations till 7 pm.