Low turnout for Visakha-I repoll

Visakhapatnam, Apr 24: Low-turnout was witnessed in the re-poll being held for Visakhapatnam-I assembly by-election, with just 22 per cent of voting being recorded till noon today.

The re-poll was held following Election Commission countermanding polling, held on February 19 in the whole segment for allegation of malpractices. The by-election was necessitated due to the death of sitting Congress member D Satyanarayana.

DCP V Ravinder said voting remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the constituency. Barring minor hitch of EVMs not working in polling station no 104 and 125, which was rectified quickly, the polling process was proceeding smoothly, he said.

The polling began on a dull note as people came in a trickle to vote. Searing heat and indifference among voters to vote resulted in low turnout. Two other factors were that daily wage earners, who are in large number in this segment coming under the teeming old town and the port area, had left for their daily chores. Holiday was declared only in the constituency, while most of the workers worked elsewhere.

Secondly, women were not seen in large numbers, as it was the time the city corporation supplied waters through taps and they were busy storing it. Drinking water is supplied once in two days in these parts of the city.

UNI