TIRUPATI: Disallowing a few erratic events and opposition celebrations raising accusations over the phony voting, the by-election for the Tirupati (SC) parliamentary constituency remained serene on Saturday.

Ballot was spread over 7 Assembly constituencies - three in Chittoor and 4 in Nellore districts - from 7 am to 7 pm.Despite a number of messages from the ECI, advising the voters to exercise their franchise, Tirupati city pulled down the voter turnout to an all-time low at 64.29 per cent out of 17.10 lakh citizens.

In the 2019 basic elections, the poll percentage was 78.99.

Today polling percentage might be modified slightly upwards by Sunday early morning, once the segment-wise figures are readily available, officials said.

Based on data provided by officials, an average of about 64.29% of ballot was taped in all 7 Assembly segments.

The break up of polling portion was Satyavedu (72.68%), Sullurpeta (70.93%), Srikalahasti (67.77%), Sarvepalli (66.19%), Gudur (63.81%), Venkatagiri (61.50%) and Tirupati at 50.58 percent.

In all, out of the 17,10,699 total voters, 10,99,784 exercised their franchise, whereas in 2019, around 12,87,734 votes out of the 16,50,453 electors were polled and the overall poll percentage was tape-recorded as 78.99 per cent.About 7.8% ballot percentage was registered by 9 am on Saturday, with around 1,33,411 voters exercising their franchise.

This was followed by 17.39% (2,97,457) by 11 am, 36.67% (6,27,331) by 1 pm, 47.42% (8,11,210) by 3 pm, 54.99% (9,40,678) by 5 pm and 64.29% (10,99,784) by 7 pm.

Professionals state that fear amongst the public due to the spike in the variety of Covid-19 positive cases in recent weeks may be the primary factor for the fall in ballot percentage.

Chittoor district had actually recently crossed 1,000 positive cases in a single day and Tirupati urban alone has been contributing 300 cases daily on an average for the past 3 days.With the district reporting a substantial spike in Covid-19 cases, the district administration made intricate arrangements for polling, ensuring physical distancing at the ballot stations and making masks compulsory for all.

Health staff also evaluated the voters and provided sanitisers prior to entering the polling booths.

Covid-19 contaminated citizens were allowed to cast their voters after 6 pm.

Meanwhile, the Tirupati Urban District police, in a press release, claimed that the by-poll has actually been performed in harmony without any untoward occurrences, under the supervision of Kranti Rana Tata, DIG, Anantapur Variety and Ch.

Venkata Appala Naidu, SO, Tirupati.However, participants and functionaries from Telugu Desam, BJP, Congress and Left parties staged demonstrations in Tirupati, demanding election authorities to take action versus the ruling celebration for presumably resorting to phony ballot in the city.

They likewise demanded re-polling in the city.