In Andhra Pradesh, peaceful and heavy polling marked the Nellore Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly bye-elections. Stating that no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere, State Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwarlal told reporters in Hyderabad that about 80 per cent polling recorded by the end of polling at 5 pm.

However, he said, the final figures may go up as large number of voters who were waiting in queues, were allowed to vote after 5 pm. In the Nellore Lok Sabha constituency, 68 per cent of the total 13 lakh, 51 thousand voters turned out to cast their vote.

Setting a new record in the history of state bye-elections, more than 80 percent of about 46 lakh 13 thousand voters turned out at Poling Stations to cast their vote in the bye-elections held for Nellore Lok Sabha and 18 Assembly Constituencies in the state. Leaving minor incidents, the polling has been passed off peacefully.

While maximum 88 percent polling has been recorded in Udayagiri Assembly segment where poling held for both Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies, minimum 66 percent of voters utilised their franchise in Tirupati. Voters in large numbers have been waiting for their turn even as the polling time came to a close at 5PM. However, the election authorities have issued slips to all those who were standing in the queues before the closing time.

Daring the scorching heat, voters especially women lined up in serpentine queues since morning. Two villages in Nellore Lok Sabha Constituency have boycotted the polling while demanding drinking water supply and to return their lands acquired for industrial purpose. The polling was delayed for few minutes due to technical snags at 16 poling stations and stopped for a little while due to tiff between two groups in Railway Koduru constituency.

But it was resumed immediately after the police interfered and controlled the situation. Two officials have been suspended for favouring a political party in Ongole Assembly Constituency. They have been caught wrong through webcasting. The political fate of the total 255 candidates has been sealed for now and it will be known only on Friday, when counting will be held.

Meanwhile, consultations are on by the Congress party with the UPA allies for evolving a consensus on the nominee for the Presidential Candidate. The Congress Working Committee had authorised Congress President Sonia Gandhi to finalise the Presidential candidate. Ms. Gandhi has already held discussions with DMK Chief Karunanidhi, NCP leader Sharad Pawar and RLD Chief Ajit Singh.

Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee arrived in New Delhi this evening. Ms. Banerjee is to call on the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi tommorow.