Brisk polling in parts of Telangana in initial hours

Brisk polling was reported in parts of Telangana in the initial hours of election today as an air of expectancy enveloped the region that is soon going to be 29th state of the country. 

Governor E S L Narasimhan and Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal were among the first to cast their votes as polling began at 7 AM on a peaceful note in 17 Lok Sabha and 119 Assembly constituencies across ten districts of Telangana, amid unprecedented security. Bhanwar Lal told reporters that by 9 AM, 15.3 per cent voters had cast their ballots. The polling is going on peacefully at all the polling stations. 

At some places EVMs developed technical problems and such machines were replaced, he said, adding Mahabubnagar district recorded the highest percentage of 17.1 in the first two hours while Hyderabad recorded loweest 10.4 per cent voter turnout among the 10 districts where polling is going on. 

Union Minister and AP Congress Campaign Committee chairman K Chiranjeevi, film actors Pawan Kalyan, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh and Nandamuri Balakrishna, badminton star Saina Nehwal and DGP B Prasada Rao also turned up early to exercise their franchise. Balakrishna, son of former Chief Minister late N T Rama Rao, is contesting from Hindupur Assembly segment in Ananthapur district in Seemandhra, which goes to polls on May seven.