Hyderabad, Sep 13 (IANS): About 30 percent voters' turnout was recorded Saturday till noon during the bypolls in Telangana's Medak Lok Sabha constituency and Andhra Pradesh's Nandigama assembly seat.
Barring minor incidents, the polling was peaceful, said Election Commission officials.
The election officials said the polling began in both the constituencies amid tight security at 7 a.m. Voters will be allowed to cast their votes till 6 p.m.
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) developed snags at few places, resulting in delay during start of the polling process. The officials later replaced the faulty EVMs.
Workers of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and opposition Congress clashed at Kothapet in Medak constituency. Police used force to disperse the clashing groups.
Villagers in Peddapur boycotted the polling to protest lack of proper roads and other development works. In Gangapur village, people did not participate in the voting because the election officials did not set up a polling centre near their village.
Over 15.43 lakh voters are eligible to cast their franchise in the prestigious Medak parliamentary constituency, where election authorities have set up 1,817 polling centres.
About 10,000 security and polls personnel have been deployed in the Medak constituency as part of elaborate arrangements to ensure free and fair elections.
A total of 14 candidates are in fray in Medak but it is mainly a triangular contest. K. Prabhakar Reddy of TRS may have a smooth sailing. He is pitted against BJP-TDP combine's Jagga Reddy and Congress party's Sunitha Lakhsma Reddy.
Prabhakar Reddy cast his vote in Pocharam while Jagga Reddy polled his vote in Sangareddy. Sunitha exercised her franchise in Gumaram village.
Polling is also under way in Nandigama assembly constituency in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh.
Over 1.84 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes at 200 polling centres.
Four candidates are in fray in Nandigama, a seat reserved for scheduled castes. The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has fielded Tangirala Soumya, daughter of Tangirala Prabhakar Rao, whose death caused the vacancy.
Soumya is locked in a direct fight against B. Babu Rao of Congress party. The two other candidates are independents.