Opposition shows ‘proof’ of impersonation

Leaders ‘chase away’ fake voters at polling stations

In the first two hours of polling, incidents of YSRCP activists allegedly accosting TDP and BJP booth agents were reported, which later subsided. Accusing the election authorities of turning a blind eye to attempts of impersonation, the Opposition parties got down to action and started identifying suspicious voters in the queue lines and exposed them on camera by going live on social media. CWC member and Congress candidate Chinta Mohan accused the ruling party of having “imported” fake voters from neighbouring constituencies for impersonation. He identified a handful of such voters and seized ‘doctored’ EPIC cards from their possession. Similarly, BJP candidate and former bureaucrat K. Ratna Prabha expressed shock at the ‘official apathy’ towards what she called gross violation of democratic norms. “Officials and staff are clearly afraid of taking action,” she told the media after reaching the Tirupati West police station to get her party agents released.