The first Bellary City Corporation elections here on Friday went off peacefully even as there was tension because of allegations of murder attempt on Tourism Minister Sriramulu and counter-allegations by JD (S). However, there were a few minor incidents.

During the final stages of election, there was a clash between BJP and JD (S) workers in Havambavi region here. Two vehicles of the supporters of Sriramulu and MLC G Janardhan Reddy were damaged.

There was a war of words between JD (S) and BJP workers in the light of reports that bogus voting and booth capturing had taken place at VDHL Girls’ High School booth.  The clash occurred when Sriramulu and Janardhan Reddy came at that time.

When more than 50 persons formed a group and indulged in rioting, police dispersed the group. At this time, there was stone throwing and two vehicles belonging to BJP were damaged.

Reddy said since JD (S) workers tried to capture the booth, his supporters objected and hence stones were thrown at them.

Chief Minister’s Parliamentary secretary Suryanarayan Reddy said it was the BJP workers who threw stones at them.

South Zone IGP H N Sathyanarayan Rao told reporters that due to the timely interference by police, there were no untoward incidents.  Polling had come to a standstill when there was a clash between agents of the two parties in Mariswamy mutt region’s two booths at Government Urdu Lower Primary School.