Hyderabad

Undeterred by sweltering heat and threats held out PWG naxalites, 65% voters exercised their franchise in the 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. The first ever fully electronic polling held amid tight security was peaceful barring stray incidents. Polling was moderate to heave in the Naxalite affected tribal areas. For the first time helicopters were pressed into service to lift men and election materials to far flung areas and monitor the situation Naxalite strongholds. The naxalites allegedly kidnapped six polling officials and took away the EVMs from a booth in Koyyuru Mandal of Visakhapatnam district. They released the officials after a few hours but did not return the EVMs. In some cases, the Electronic Voting Machines posted the vote for BJP or TDP even when the vote is actually cast to some other party.

Visakhapatnam

The PWG kidnapped six polling officials and four EVMs and two vehicles, necessitating re-pool at the polling booth in Plakjeedi village of Koyyuru Mandal in Chintapalli Assembly constituency in Visakhapatnam district and later released them after few hours. However, the EVMs were not returned. One polling official, Simhachalam of Panchayat Raj department, died of heart attack while on poll duty at Pedabayalu in Paderu constituency. The administration sanctioned a compensation of Rs.2.5 lakhs to his kind. By and large polling went on peacefully.

The APSRTC will run special buses to Simhachalam on April 22nd for the convenience of passenger for Chandanostavam. The specials will run from 3am from the old post office and other areas to hill top and also at Simhachalam complex.

Tirumala

The Chief Minister, N.Chandrababunaidu on Tuesday said people had no faith in the Congress and Telengana Rashtra Samiti combine. Mr. Naidu who turned 55 years offered prayers in the hill temple. Talking to presspersons later, he said the Congress-TRS alliance was unholy and its sole intention was grabbing power. Check out the horoscope of Chandrababu Naidu from AstrologyForU.com

Adilabad

The TDP candidate for the Adilabad Lok Sabha seat and former MP S.Venugopalachary received minor injuries when Congress supporters of the Nirmal Assembly candidate A Indrakaran Reddy three stones at his car at Laxmanachanda village in the early hours of Tuesday. His gunman was also injured.

Adilabad

The Congress veteran and seven time MLA from the Mudhole constituency in Adilabad district G.Gaddenna died at his house in Bhainsa town on Tuesday. A former minister of 72 years old Gaddenna leaves three sons and four daughters.

Adilabad

PWGF naxalites exploded a claymore mine at 6.15pm on Tuesday blasting a culvert near Movvad village in Asifabad Mandal under the Khanapur Assembly segment 20th.

Khammam

A road transport Corporation bus was set afire by PWG naxals near Vunjipalli polling station of Bhadrachalam division on Tuesday. The police said the bus was used for lifting polling materials.

Events and happenings on 20 April in History

20 April 2001
Highlights: 13 people dies in a Lorry accident in Anantapur

20 April 2002
Highlights: Union Minister Sri Suresh Prabhu meets CM

20 April 2003
Highlights: Two naxals killed in an encounter

20 April 2004
Highlights: Heavy polling despite naxal threat and heat

20 April 2005
Highlights: Naxal couple surrenders in Adilabad

20 April 2006
Highlights: Fish tanks spread over three acres blasted

20 April 2007
Highlights: World Bank approve Rs. 950 crore loan