Maoists call fails to deter people from voting

​Kothagudem: Despite a call given by Maoists to boycott polling in Telangana, there had been a good response from voters in Naxalite-affected villages in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district. Voters were seen arriving at polling stations at 7 am at places like Tegada, Kurnapalli, Dummugudem, Wazedu and Venkatapuram and Lenin Colony in Charlamandal close to Chhattisgarh border in Bhadrachalam constituency.

Tribals took part actively in the polling at Lenin Colony where long queues of voters were seen. By 10 am a considerable number of voters had cast their votes in Maoist-affected areas. In the wake of CPI (Maoist) party call to boycott polls and reports on the movements of their action teams, heavy police deployment was made to ensure peaceful polling.

Overall, the polling which began at slow pace picked up momentum as the day progressed. Average polling percentage in Kothagudem district recorded by 9 am was 9.7 per cent and it reached 21 per cent at 11 am.
By 3pm, the district average polling was 61.4 per cent. The constituency wise polling percentage was; Pinapaka- 65, Yellandu-54.47, Kothagudem-61.02, Aswaraopeta-61 and Bhadrachalam-66 per cent. 

Six relocated polling stations in the district, Lenin Colony, Danvaipeta, Gowraram, Singavaram (PS No: 104), Singavaram (PS No: 105) and Singavaram Gram Panchayat also witnessed good participation in polling. The polling stations have been relocated in view of Maoist threat.

 Kothagudem District Collector Rajat Kumar Saini and Superintendent of Police Sunil Dutt monitored polling situation through webcasting at the district Collectorate. Five returning officers, 85 sectorial officers and 4404 poll personnel engaged in conducting of polling.

The police reportedly arrested a Maoist action team member called Sodiadmaiah , a resident of Chennapura and recovered two directional mines (pipe bomb) from him in Charla police station limits while four others with him escaped.