Amid allegations that Congress, TDP and YSR Congress parties have conducted camps in various towns three days in advance of the MLC elections being held in Chittor, Kadapa and Anantapur districts under the local bodies’ quota, the elections to 9 seats of the Legislative Council from 8 districts began this morning under unprecedented police protection.

A record number of 33 candidates are in the fray, according to details released by the state election authorities in Hyderabad.

At several places, tension prevailed between the supporters of the congress and the YSR Congress resulting in arguments and counter arguments and inviting police interference for the smooth conduct of the elections.

Police arrested former minister P. Ramachandra reddy and former TUDA chairman Chevireddy Bhaskara reddy, arch rivals of the chief minister Kirankumar reddy in Chittor district for entering into the polling area without permission and sent them to different police stations.

Reports indicated that the congress has asked its local bodies’ representatives in some districts to vote for the candidates of TDP in order to ensure the defeat of the candidates of the YSR congress party led by former Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan reddy.

It may be mentioned there are reports that the three parties had bribed voters through money, liquor and entertainment that included record dances and cabaret dances.