Telangana witnessed an approximate voter turnout of 52.34 percent by 3 PM on Monday, as citizens cast their ballots for the 17 Lok Sabha seats up for grabs in the state, as per data from an Election Commission app. As the day progressed, the turnout surged to 61.54 percent by the close of polling, which concluded at 6 PM across most constituencies. However, in areas affected by Left Wing Extremism, the electoral process wrapped up at 4 PM.
Officials' Statements on Voting
The polling process in Telangana was peaceful, DGP Ravi Gupta said in a release. Notably, polling in Naxal-affected areas concluded without any incident by 4 pm, he said. State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vikas Raj said the response from voters was good.
"We have got a very good response right from morning. Weather was also supportive. So we had a good turnout. There was no problem on the law and order side also," Vikas Raj told reporters.
Out of the total 35,809 polling stations, voting was going on in about 1,400 booths at 6 PM.
The final polling percentage would be known after tabulation on Tuesday, the CEO said. The approximate voter turnout in the state was 62 per cent, according to an Election Commission app on voter turnout. While the Zahirabad Lok Sabha constituency witnessed the highest poll percentage (as per provisional data) of 72.48 percent, the lowest poll percentage of 39.17 was seen in the Hyderabad parliamentary constituency.
The CEO also said 38 FIRs were filed today for various reasons. The Collector of Hyderabad district said on 'X' that a case is registered in Malakpet Police Station against BJP candidate Madhavi Latha, under different sections of the IPC and the Representation of the People Act.
This follows an allegation that Latha checked the identity of a burqa-clad woman voter by asking them to show their faces.
Madhavi Latha Alleges Rigging in Voting
Madhavi Latha, alleged that a polling booth in Riyasat Nagar was locked and that "rigging" was taking place. Despite being requested, the police did not open the gate, she claimed in a video posted by BJP Telangana on X.
"Rigging is going on inside," said Madhavi Latha, who is taking on AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi in Hyderabad LS constituency. She alleged that some "goons" tried to intimidate her in some areas, adding that she, however, can never be scared.
The BJP is winning in the Hyderabad parliamentary seat, she asserted.
Big Battle of Hyderabad
In the 2019 elections, Hyderabad had 1,957,931 eligible voters, with 877,872 valid votes cast. Asaduddin Owaisi won decisively, securing 517,471 votes. Dr. Bhagavanth Rao, the BJP candidate, lagged significantly, with a deficit of 282,186 votes.
However, this time a closely contested battle is unfolding between BJP candidate Kompella Madhavi Latha and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, a four-time MLA from the same constituency. What makes this electoral face-off particularly noteworthy is the BJP's decision to field a woman candidate in what is traditionally considered an AIMIM stronghold. Madhavi Latha, hailing from a non-political background, serves as the chairperson of Virinchi Hospitals, a prominent corporate healthcare institution. Beyond her professional pursuits, she is recognized for her philanthropic endeavors as the chairperson of the Lopamudra Charitable Trust. Armed with a bachelor’s degree from Nizam’s College and a postgraduate degree in political science from Koti Woman’s College.
Big Political Faces Seen During Voting
Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, his Tripura counterpart N Indrasena Reddy, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Union Minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy, former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi were among senior leaders who cast their vote in Telangana.
Apart from this, several film personalities, including Chiranjeevi, Mahesh Babu, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, Junior NTR, and ace director SS Rajamouli of 'RRR' fame, also exercised their franchise.
Telangana CM Accuses BJP of Polarizing Muslim Votes
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who cast his vote in his Assembly constituency of Kodangal in Vikarabad district, alleged that the BJP is trying to "polarise Muslim votes to make (AIMIM's) Asaduddin Owaisi win". He also alleged that the BJP is misusing central agencies for electoral benefit.
On the case registered by Delhi police in connection with a doctored video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah on social media, he wondered how the Delhi police could issue notices to him when he was not aware of its content. Referring to leaders, including Ajit Pawar, Kumaraswamy and others of JD(S) joining hands with BJP, he claimed that PM Modi does not have the moral right to talk about corruption.
Referring to PM Modi's allegation that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was not talking about 'Adani-Ambani', he said the PM can send ED, IT and CBI to "raid Adani-Ambani residence and office places". "When they are sending truck loads of money to the Congress party, why are you not taking action against Adani - Ambani?" he asked.
However, The BJP filed a complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer alleging that Revanth Reddy conducted a press conference after casting his vote and leveled certain allegations against the saffron party in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Kishan Reddy on Positive Response
Addressing reporters, Kishan Reddy said the BJP has received positive response from people in the Lok Sabha polls. Though voter turnout was low in urban areas, the votes polled were in favor of BJP, he claimed. There were several reasons for the low voting, including many voters going to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, he added.
Comments