Telangana Assembly elections updates | 63.94% voter turnout recorded till 5 p.m.

All exit polls have hinted at the Congress party nearly coming to power in Telangana relegating the ruling BRS to the second place. 

The BJP has been relegated to the third place in the exit polls with single digit seats while the MIM another major contender is shown as failing to retain its 2018 seats.

Notwithstanding several exit polls indicating that Bharat Rashtra Samthi (BRS) is on its way out of power in Telangana, working president of the party K.T. Rama Rao exuded confidence that they are going to retain power with comfortable majority of over 70 out 119 seats in the Assembly. 

Telangana recorded a voter turnout of 63.94% till 5 p.m. in the assembly polls for 119 seats, according to the Election Commission of India.

According to the Election commission, Medak recorded a voter turnout of 80.28%, Mahabubabad at 77.50%, Adilabad at 73.58%, Hanumankonda at 62.46% and Hyderabad at 31.17% till 5 pm.

Jangaon recorded 80.23% of voter turnout, while Kamareddy recorded 71%. The voter turnout in Khammam was recorded 73.77%, Nalgonda recorded 75.72%, Nizamabad at 68.30%, Sangareddy recorded 73.83% and Rangareddy recorded 53.03%. 

As per the information from the Election Commission, here are the estimated poll percentage at 5 p.m.

Top 3 highest poll percentage:

Jangaon -> 83.34%

Narsampet -> 83.00%

Dubbak -> 82.75%

Lowest poll percentage:

Yakutpura -> 27.87%

Nampally -> 32.40%

Chandrayangutta -> 34.02

Aaraa pre-poll survey predicts 58-67 seats for the Congress and 41-49 for BRS. BJP may get 5-7 seats, with the remaining 7-9 going to others. 

Polling for Telangana Assembly Elections-2023 came to an end at 5 p.m. 

Whoever were in the queues at polling stations will be allowed to exercise their franchise.

In a tragic incident, a 78-year-old woman died after she reportedly suffered epileptic seizures at a polling booth in Adilabad district on Thursday afternoon.

Approximate voting percentage in Telangana at different intervals of time since today morning, as per the information from Election Commission

9 a.m. -> 7.78%

11 a.m. -> 20.64%

1 p.m. -> 36.88%

3 p.m. -> 51.89%

Busy arterial roads in Hyderabad were relatively deserted on Thursday as the polling for Telangana Assembly Elections-2023 is underway. A holiday was announced to the educational institutes, government offices and private offices too. 

People who took to roads remarked that they were able to cover considerable distances within a relatively short span of time.

Telangana BJP has appealed to the Election Commission of India (ECI) complaining about the state police being a ‘mute spectator’ to the various ‘electoral malpractices’ by the ruling BRS representatives during polling in various districts across the State on Thursday.

State president and Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of Northeast Region, G. Kishan Reddy, in his complaint, charged that the police was allowing the BRS leaders to move in groups of 100-200 people around the polling areas and when the BJP was objecting to the same, the party cadre was being ‘attacked’.

- Telangana Bureau

According to the Election commission, Medak district recorded a voter turnout of 69.33%, Mahabubabad at 65.05%, Adilabad at 62.34%, Hanumankonda at 49% and Hyderabad at 31.17% till 3 pm.

Telangana Congress president A. Revanth took a dig at the ruling BRS on Thursday and said “CAR is going to the garage due to the tsunami of Congress.”

Earlier today, Mr. Reddy said the police of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana clashing at Nagarjuna Sagar just hours before the polling seems suspicious and people of Telangana were aware of who raked up the issue.

The Election Commission cracked its whip on several occasions to ensure a level playing field for all parties in the five states where assembly polls are being held even as authorities seized freebies, drugs, cash and liquor worth over ₹1766 crore aimed at alluring voters.

It withdrew permission given to the Telangana government for disbursements of financial aid to farmers for rabi crops under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme after a State minister violated the provisions of the model code by making a public announcement about it. - PTI

As of 3 p.m. on Thursday, 51.89% voter turnout has been registered in the Telangana Assembly elections, as per information from the ECI.

Hyderabad City police took to streets to encourage citizens to come out and vote. 

A team from Bhavani Nagar police station in the south zone said, “I request everyone in the colony to exercise their franchise. Today is not a holiday, do not assume it to be a holiday and sleep at home. You will get good leaders, if you vote freely, and your problems will be resolved. I request you again to come out and vote. Yours, Hyderabad City police.”

The BRS in Telangana 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.

In the complaint addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner, Telangana Chief Electoral Officer and state DGP on Wednesday, the BRS said reliable sources have provided information indicating that the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) was “involved” in the creation and dissemination of “fake audio and video” content through the use of ‘deepfake’ technology and artificial intelligence. - PTI

Gig workers or those into food, grocery delivery were far and few in the localities of western Hyderabad as most eateries, restaurants and commercial establishments remained closed for the Assembly elections on November 30.

Image credit: N. Ravi Kumar

Election Commission of India’s special observers for Hyderabad for the State Assembly elections - Special Police Observer Deepak Mishra and Special General Observer Ajay V. Naik, along with Hyderabad City police commissioner Sandeep Shandilya visit the TS – Integrated Command and Control Centre, Banjara Hills, to monitor election surveillance.

Drone cameras and a network of 6000 CCTVs were deployed for surveillance today.

Credit: Special Arrangement

Campaigning in the Nampally Assembly constituency was polarised with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Congress trading barbs, over Congress candidate Feroz Khan reportedly describing a large chunk of the Muslim electorate as possessing a ‘Talibani’ and fanatical mindset.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on November 30 rescheduled the timeline for publication of exit polls for the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana.

The Commission now stated that the prohibition to publicise the exit poll results will be till 5.30 p.m. on November 30.

According to its October 31, 2023-notification, the ban was from 7 a.m. of November 7, the day Mizoram and Chhattisgarh went to polls, till 6.30 p.m. of November 30, the day Telangana polls conclude. However, it has now been advanced by an hour.

A picture of the ruling BRS candidate and the sitting MLA from Bellampalli, Durgam Chinnaiah wearing the party scarf inside a polling booth in Mancherial district went viral on social media.

Sources said that Mr. Chinnaiah cast his vote at a polling booth in Jendavenkatapur village in Nennel mandal of Bellampalli constituency this morning.

The Hyderabad city police officials have asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Hyderabad Circle to close Charminar on November 30.

The letter to the ASI said the in view of the Telangana State Assembly polling day on November 30, the monument has to remain closed.

A scene of a nearly empty stretch of IT corridor in Hyderabad that hosts campuses of Microsoft, Infosys, Wipro as well the premier B-school ISB.

Credit: N. Ravi Kumar

Voters queued up in good numbers on Thursday across Telangana to seal the fate of nearly 2,500 MLA aspirants in the polling being held for 119 Assembly segments in the state, where the BRS aims to retain power for a third time while the Congress is keen to upset the ruling party’s chances.

As of 1 p.m. on Thursday, 36.68% voters had cast their votes, Election Commission officials said.

Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj told reporters polling was peaceful, except for minor skirmishes at one or two places. - PTI

Earlier in November, YSR Telangana Party president Y.S. Sharmila had announced that the party will not contest in the Telangana Assembly Elections-2023 and extended support to Congress party.

Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj has said that his office received complaints against the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K. Kavitha and other political leaders, which have been referred to the DEO concerned seeking their reports.

“Yes, we have received a complaint against Ms. Kavitha saying that she has violated the Model Code of Conduct. We have referred the complaint to the DEO concerned for a detailed report. We have also received complaints against other leaders also. All such complaints have been sent to the DEO’s for their reply,” he told reporters on November 30.

Nalgonda district (39.20%) with six Assembly constituencies – Nalgonda, Devarakonda, Miryalaguda, Munugode, Nakrekal, and Nagarajuna Sagar.

Suryapet district (44.14%) with four ACs – Suryapet, Thungathurthy, Huzurnagar, and Kodad.

Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district (45%) with two ACs – Alair and Bhongir.

BRS Working President Rama Rao, his sister and party MLC K. Kavitha were among the early voters after polling began at 7 a.m. 

“I sincerely request everybody in Telangana to come out and exercise their right. Because when you vote you have the right to question us. When you vote, you can hold the politicians accountable,” she said. - PTI

Actor-producer Nagarjuna Akkineni arrived with his wife and actor Amala Akkineni to cast their vote at the polling booth at Hyderabad Presidency College & P G Centre in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad on Thursday.

Actor Naga Chaitanya also arrived to cast his vote at the same polling booth.

Governor of Haryana, Bandaru Dattatraya, along with family members cast his vote for Telangana Legislative Assembly on Thursday at polling station No. 232 JV Hgh School, Ramnagar, Hyderabad.

Credit: Special Arrangement

Image credit: K. V. S. Giri

Chief Minister and BRS President K. Chandrashekhar Rao flew down to Chintamadaka in Siddipet district to cast his vote on November 30 for Telangana Assembly polls. 

Accompanied by wife Shoba, Mr. Rao escorted by Finance Minister T. Harish Rao reached the local polling booth to cast their vote.

Telangana recorded a voter turnout of 20.64% till 11 a.m. in the Assembly polls that is currently underway for 119 seats, according to the Election Commission of India.

Long queues were seen outside the polling stations in towns and rural parts of Telangana since early morning. However, several polling booths across the State witnessed wafer-thin turnout.

Most shopping areas wore a deserted look on Thursday afternoon as voting got underway for the Telangana Legislative Assembly Elections.

Credit: Telangana Bureau

The voter turnout is yet to pick up at Kulsumpura segment of Karwan Assembly constituency. Till 11 a.m., Karwan registered a turnout of 20.15%.

Credit: Serish Nanisetti

About 120 kms from Hyderabad, Nalgonda district, as of 11 a.m. recorded an average 22.74% polling.

Devarakonda (ST) Assembly constituency registers a maximum 27.23%. Munugode (25.20), Nagarjuna Sagar (22.98), Nakrekal (SC) (22.10), Miryalaguda (21.06), and Nalgonda (17.60). 

- Telangana Bureau

Image credit: Syed Mohammed

Young women voters show their finger marked with indelible ink after casting vote during the Assembly elections in Hyderabad on Thursday. 

Photo: K. V. S. Giri

From a sedate start at many places, the turnout in the Assembly polls in Telangana is picking up. A scene of people waiting for their turn outside a booth in Gachibowli, Hyderabad.

Image credit: N. Ravi Kumar

Panduranga Raju, a resident of Ishaq Colony, Karkhana did not find his name in the voter list. After reaching the polling station (Gandhian High School, Secunderabad Cantonment), he found no mention of his name in the list.

Long queues were seen outside the polling stations in towns and rural parts of Telangana since early this morning as the polling for the State Assembly Elections-2023 began on Thursday.

Enthusiastic response was seen across the rural parts and towns as people came in large numbers to cast their votes. Reports from Sangareddy district suggested good turnout even as several medicos of Mamatha Medical College in Khammam Town, many of them first time voters, were seen waiting in queue to cast their vote.

Tension prevailed at Booth number 244 in Jangaon constituency, when the BRS-Congress-BJP clashed. Police had to resort to cane charge to disperse the cadres. 

Police officials from the Cyberabad Commissionerate, which has 3,202 polling stations covering 1,191 polling locations, said that they have made adequate bandobast and security arrangements to ensure peaceful conduct of elections.

Cyberabad Police chief M.Stephen Raveendra said that the commissionerate covers 13 Assembly constituencies under four districts, including Rangareddy, Medchal, Sangareddy and part of Hyderabad with a total of 34,42,219 voters.

📸: Serish Nanisetti

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Read here to learn how corridors of power in Telangana have often echoed with the footsteps of successive generations, shaping the State’s political landscape

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