Crucial polling showdown commences in Telangana

The electoral battleground in Telangana witnessed a crucial showdown as polling commenced at 7 am on Thursday to elect 119 members of the Legislative Assembly. The outcome, set to be unveiled on 3 December, hangs in the balance for 2,290 contestants, including prominent figures like Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, his son KT Rama Rao, Congress president A Revanth Reddy, and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar and D Arvind.
With voting underway at 35,655 polling stations, 106 constituencies engaged in the democratic process until 5 pm, while 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected seats concluded at 4 pm. The Bharatiya Rashtriya Samithi (BRS) made its mark by fielding candidates in all 119 seats, and under a seat-sharing agreement, the BJP and Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena contested in 111 and 8 seats, respectively. The Congress, aligning with CPI, competed in 118 seats, while Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM presented candidates in nine city segments.
As the curtains fell on Thursday’s assembly polls, the Election Commission reported a 63.94% voter turnout for Telangana. Notably, the 13 assembly segments grappling with Left Wing Extremism (LWE) saw peaceful conclusions by 4 pm. The electorate’s enthusiasm was palpable, with Medak recording an impressive 80.28% turnout, Mahabubabad at 77.50%, and Adilabad at 73.58% until 5 pm. However, the capital city, Hyderabad, registered a comparatively modest 31.17% turnout.
Key constituencies displayed varying levels of civic participation, with Jangaon boasting an 80.23% turnout, Kamareddy at 71%, and Khammam recording 73.77%. The Hyderabad City police actively took to the streets, urging citizens to exercise their voting rights. Officers from the Bhavani Nagar police station emphasized the importance of participation and civic responsibility.
Addressing the matter of exit polls, Telangana Minister and BRS leader KTR expressed dissatisfaction, deeming them illogical and criticizing the Election Commission’s timing. Meanwhile, Telangana BJP president and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy acknowledged the smooth conduct of voting but raised concerns about alleged violations by the BRS.
Reddy accused the party of breaching the Model Code of Conduct, alleging the distribution of money and liquor in the presence of the police. As the state awaits the unveiling of election results, the aftermath of these polls remains pivotal for the political landscape in Telangana.