The high polling percentage being recorded in the by-elections to 18 assembly seats and Nellore parliamentary seat has created tension in the ruling Congress party.

By 3 pm, the average percentage of polling in the by-polls was more than 60 per cent.

While Macherla assembly constituency recorded the maximum polling of 72 per cent, Parkal recorded 71 per cent, Allagadda 68.4 per cent, Rayadurgam 68 per cent, Nellore and Udayagiri 65 per cent, Narasannapet 64.5 per cent, Prathipadu 64 per cent, Emmiganur 64.3 per cent, Ongole 62 per cent, Anantapur 59 per cent and Polavaram 54.5 per cent.

And by the time the polling closes at 5 pm and in some places beyond the stipulated time, the polling percentage is likely to exceed an average of 75 per cent.

According to political observers, the higher the polling percentage, the greater will be the loss for the Congress party, as was the experience in Kovvur. The newly enrolled voters especially the youth and women are said to be favouring the YSR Congress party, because of the failure of the government in implementing welfare schemes like Arogyasri and fee reimbursement scheme. And the Telugu Desam Party has failed to turn the tide in its favour.