Nearly 90 pc polling for Palair Assembly bypoll in Telangana

About 90 per cent voter turnout was recorded today for by-election to Palair Assembly constituency in Khammam district, where ruling TRS, Congress and CPI(M) are locked in a triangular contest.
"No untoward incident was reported during the polling. Nearly 90 per cent voters cast their vote," Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal told PTI.
The polling was held between 7 AM and 6 PM.
Thirteen candidates, including nine Independents, are in the contest which is being held after Congress MLA from the constituency Ramreddy Venkat Reddy passed away in March.
The poll battle is expected to be a triangular fight between ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi, Congress and CPI(M).

TRS has fielded state Roads and Buildings Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, while the opposition Congress named Venkat Reddy's wife Sucharita Reddy as its nominee. CPI(M) has fielded P Sudarshan Rao for the seat.

TDP and YSR Congress, which are not in the fray, are supporting the deceased MLA's wife. BJP is not contesting either.
The TRS has tried to woo voters on the "developmental work" it plans to undertake in the constituency if elected, while Congress has tried to "encash" the sympathy wave due to the sudden death of Venkat Reddy.
"The district administration made all necessary arrangements for smooth conduct of the bypolls," Khammam district Collector Dana Kishore said.

As many as 41 flying squads were monitoring activities to ensure enforcement of the model code of conduct, according to officials.
Apart from central paramilitary forces, police personnel from the state have been deployed as part of the security arrangements, they said.
There are 243 polling stations in the constituency, and 1,90,351 eligible voters.
The results would be declared on May 19.