As anticipated by a section of the press, heavy horse trading apart from reports of the distribution of money bags was prominent in the triangular contests in the LAC elections held in eight districts on Monday.
However fears of violence were unfounded and the polls were conducted peacefully.
In all, 6,793 voters exercised their franchise to elect 9 out of 33 candidates. The Congress had fielded 8 candidates, the Telugu Desam Party 6 and 19 are Independents, according
to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office here.
The YSR Congress is believed to have fielded Independents.
In Kadapa, where YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy has been camping, four independents were in the fray against the lone Congress candidate who had the backing of Ministers DL Ravinder Reddy, Syed Ahmedullah, in-charge Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana and 20 Point Chairman Tulasi Reddy.
In Anantapur, the TDP and Congress fought the poll face to face while in Nellore district, the TDP, Congress and an independent were locked in a triangular contest.
In West Godavari, the TDP candidate faced eight Independents while in East Godavari, two independents fought against the TDP and Congress.
The Congress candidate in Srikakulam came face to face with an independent whereas three independents had to fight the Congress and TDP candidates in Chittoor district. Incidentally, Chittoor district is Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s home turf but his rival Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy has been going against the Congress candidate.
In Kurnool again, the Independent, Congress and TDP candidates are locked in a triangular contest.