Telangana Election 2023: Polling concludes across 119 constituencies

Polling concluded peacefully in Telangana on Thursday.  The officials said 51. 89 per cent votes were cast by 3 PM in the total 119 constituencies in the state.

Congress MP KC Venugopal claimed that his party will election in Telangana. "People in Telangana are also saying that Congress will sweep the election...We will win all the five states. That is what the general impression is..." he added. 

The BRS has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against the Congress alleging that the party used 'deepfake' technology to create fabricated content, targeting BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao and other prominent party leaders and candidates contesting in the Assembly elections in the state.

A voter turnout of 36.68 per cent was recorded in the state till 11 pm, according to the Election Commission. About 1,000 other voters have also registered for the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System, according to a poll official.

Actor Vijay Deverakonda arrived at Jubilee Hills Public School in Hyderabad to cast his vote. Polling for the 119 Assembly constituencies in Telangana began on Thursday morning. As many as 2,290 candidates from 109 national and regional parties including 221 women and one transgender are in the fray.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao cast his vote at Chintamadaka in Siddipet. He also showed his inked finger after exercising his franchise. He is contesting from two segments-- Gajwel and Kamareddy. The Chief Minister represents Gajwel in the outgoing Legislative Assembly.

YSR Telangana Party president YS Sharmilao cast her vote in Hyderabad. Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya also cast his vote in Hyderabad. "I have always voted since 1983. Voting is very important to further strengthen our democracy," Dattatreya told media. 

A voter turnout of 20.64 per cent was recorded till 11 am in the state, as per the Election Commission. The polling will continue till 5 pm today. The results of the election will be declared on December 3. 

BRS workers allegedly stopped state Congress president-party candidate Revanth Reddy's brother Kondal Reddy from visiting the polling booth in Kamareddy. He was stopped on grounds that he is not a voter here and is not authorised to visit. Speaking on the matter, a BRS worker alleged that Reddy was roaming around with a fake pass and speaking with the Returning Officer. "Kondal Reddy is roaming around with 20 people. He went to three polling stations with them in three vehicles but the Police didn't tell them anything...They are indulging in hooliganism after coming here. We got the people accompanying him, arrested by Police. But the Police released them in 10 minutes...We will complain to the Election Commission," he added. 

Actor-producer Nagarjuna and his wife Amala Akkineni arrived to cast their vote at the polling booth at the Govt Working Women's Hostel in Jubilee Hills. Additionally, actor Naga Chaitanya also reached the same polling booth to cast his vote. For a higher voter turnout, several leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi have urged the people of the state to exercise their franchise.

A scuffle broke out between groups of workers of Congress, BJP and BRS at a polling station in Jangaon. The situation was brought under control with Police intervention.

Telangana minister and BRS MLA KT Rama Rao and his wife Shailima cast their votes at Nandi Nagar in Banjara Hills. The Election Commission has ordered all private establishments including IT firms to declare a holiday today to enable employees to exercise their franchise.

Telangana Congress president Revanth Reddy claimed that Congress will make the government in the state. "We will form the government with 2/3 majority. We will repeat Karnataka results in Telangana," he added.

8.52 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Telangana till 10 am. State BJP chief G Kishan Reddy, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin were among the early voters. 

State Congress president Ravanth Reddy showed his inked finger after casting his vote at a polling booth in Kodangal. When asked if he would be the CM if Congress comes to power, State Congress president Revanth Reddy says, "There are 85 MLAs, everyone is capable for CM post. There is a process..."

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi cast his vote in Hyderabad. He also spoke to the media after casting his vote. The AIMIM chief urged people to vote in large numbers in order to "strengthen the democracy."  "I urge the people of Telangana to exercise their right to vote to strengthen democracy....It is very important that those living in urban areas vote, not think of this day as a holiday. If you vote, the accountability of the politicians will also increase. First-time voters have a great responsibility to fulfil," he added. 

Former cricketer and Congress Jubilee Hills candidate Mohammad Azharuddin cast his vote in Hyderabad. Speaking to the media, he also dwelled on importance of voting in a democracy. "It is important to vote. If you don't vote, then you don't have any right to question..." he told news agency ANI. 

Former cricketer and Congress Jubilee Hills candidate Mohammad Azharuddin cast his vote in Hyderabad. Speaking to the media, he also dwelled on importance of voting in a democracy. "It is important to vote. If you don't vote, then you don't have any right to question..." he told news agency ANI. 

A video has surfaced showing Specially-abled voters arriving at a polling station in Siddipet to exercise their franchise in Telangana elections. They were assited by people at the booth in casting their votes. 

Telangana state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vikas Raj cast his vote at a polling booth in SR Nagar, Hyderabad.  "Since 7 am we have started seeing long queues at very interior places also...Polling is going on briskly. At every place, it is very peaceful and I request all the voters to vote..." he told the media.

Union minister and Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy said that people should exercise their right to vote. "I appeal to the public to fulfil their responsibility. I want to tell the public that today is the chance to choose your government. People should look at the candidate or party, not be lured by liquor and other things," he said. The minister also exuded confidence in the BJP's victory in the state with a full majority. 

Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar and his family cast their votes at GHMC Sports complex Both no: 105, Amberpet. About 77,000 security personnel, comprising state police and Home Guards drawn from the state and neighbouring states, besides 375 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), have been deployed across the state as part of the security arrangements for the election.

Telangana DGP and his wife show their inked fingers after casting their votes.

Actor Jr NTR and his family arrived to cast their votes at the polling booth in P Obul Reddy Public School in Hyderabad. A total of 103 legislators are re-contesting this time, most of them from the ruling Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS).

Actor Allu Arjun was seen in a queue to cast his vote in Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills area. For the first time in Telangana, a home voting facility is being provided to persons with disabilities and voters above 80 years of age.

BRS MLC K Kavitha cast her vote at a polling booth in Banjara Hills. She also urged urban voters to exercise their franchise. "I urge urban votes to come out and vote. Voting is a crucial aspect of nation building process," she said. 

Voting has not yet started at polling booth number 397, one of the four in Asaduddin Owaisi's polling station St. Faiz High School.  Some technical glitch in EVM is said to be the reason.

(Input: T Raghavan)

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha urged the young population to vote in large numbers. "Especially to the young men and women, I sincerely appeal to you to please come and vote. Today is not a holiday, it is a day to participate and strengthen democracy...The decibels have been high but it was the same scenario in 2018 and people supported BRS and this time also I believe people will support us...Love of people is with KCR, love of people is with BRS. People are going to vote for 'car' and we are going to win." she added. 

As polling is underway in the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people of Telangana to vote in record numbers in order to "strengthen the festival of democracy." "I call upon my sisters and brothers of Telangana to vote in record numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. I particularly urge young and first time voters to exercise their franchise," he wrote on 'X'.

The voting has begun across all 119 constituencies amid tight security in the state. The voting will continue till 5 PM. The Election Commission has ordered all private establishments including IT firms to declare a holiday today to enable employees to exercise their franchise.

Visuals have surfaced from booth number 214, Deeksha Model High School, Amberpet Assembly constituency. More than 2.5 lakh staff will be engaged in poll duties for the assembly elections, as per a Chief Electoral officer. 

Mock polls were conducted as part of preparations as voting in the state will begin at 7 am today. Visuals from the Kamareddy Assembly Constituency. 

In a stern action ahead of assembly polls in Telangana the Election Commission ordered the suspension of three state police officers, including a deputy commissioner of police, for allegedly trying to dilute a case in a cash-seizure matter, sources said. In a letter to the chief secretary of Telangana, the Commission is learnt to have said that following the recovery of Rs 18 lakh in cash along with a mobile phone and a chequebook, the police officers, instead of taking proper legal action against the culprit, apparently tried to dilute the case, news agency PTI reported citing sources.

The list of some important constituencies: 

• Gajwel
• Huzurabad
• Korutla
• Maheshwaram
• Goshamahal
• Mahbubnagar
• LB Nagar
• Warangal East and West
• Bhupalapally
• Khairatabad
• Amberpet
• Boath
• Nirmal
• Adilabad
• Ramagundam
• Peddapalli
• Kothagudem
• Armoor
• Nizamabad Urban
• Patancheru
• Serilingampally
• Husnabad
• Dubbak
• Kalwakurthy

The main candidates in the fray for the upcoming Telangana Assembly Election are Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (BRS) from Kamareddy and Gajwel, former Telangana Cabinet Minister Etela Rajender (BJP) from Gajwel and Huzurabad, Congress Telangana chief Anumula Revanth Reddy (Congress) from Kodangal and Kamareddy, Telangana Cabinet Minister KT Rama Rao (BRS) from Sircilla, Lok Sabha member Bandi Sanjay Kumar (BJP) from Karimnagar, Lok Sabha member Nalamada Uttam Kumar Reddy (Congress) from Huzurnagar, former Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari (BRS) from Ghanpur Station, former Lok Sabha member Mohammad Azharuddin (Congress) from Jubilee Hills, and others.

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As many as 2,290 contestants are in the fray for the upcoming elections, including Chief Minister KCR, his minister-son K T Rama Rao, state Congress president A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar and D Arvind. CM KCR is contesting from two segments-- Gajwel and Kamareddy.
He represents Gajwel in the outgoing Legislative Assembly.