Telangana Polling Ends, 67% Voter Turnout in 119 Constituencies
India’s youngest state, Telangana, goes to polls on Friday, 7 December, to constitute its second Assembly.
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India’s youngest state, Telangana, went to polls on Friday, 7 December, to constitute its second Legislative Assembly. The state recorded 67 percent voter turnout, said the Election Commission.
Stay tuned for The Quint’s coverage on the exit polls.
- Kadiyam Srihari, Harish Rao, Pocharama Srinivas Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao and Jagadish Reddy were among the leaders who cast their votes
- Former Union Minister Chiranjeevi and cine actors Nagarjuna also voted in Telangana’s Jubilee Hills
- TRS Chief K Chandrasekhar Rao will remain the caretaker chief minister till the new government is formed
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Early Polls in Telangana
A united Andhra Pradesh has voted for both state Assembly and the Lok Sabha at the same time — from 1999 till 2014. However, since August 2018, media reports suggested that KCR was getting ‘battle-ready’ to dissolve the Assembly and go to polls in winter 2018, along with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.
KCR dissolved the Telangana Assembly on 6 September, his supposed ‘lucky’ date.
Hours after dissolving the Assembly, he released a list of 105 candidates who will fight the elections from Husnabad, the very place he launched his 2014 campaign.
The Main Contenders in Battlefield Telangana
The main contenders for this election remain to be the KCR-led TRS, which was in power for the last four years, and the Congress-led 'Mahakutami' (or 'Grand Alliance'), which included the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) among many others.
The BJP, although not a main contender, is expected to swing some percentage of vote share its way. In all, there are now as many as nine political parties vying for power in the state.
What Do the Pre-poll Surveys Say?
The Aaj Tak-India Today survey predicts a massive victory for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), with 43 percent voters predicted to cast their ballot for the KCR party. The Congress, on the other hand, is expected to garner 18 percent of vote share.
Interestingly, 11 percent of those surveyed wanted KCR to be the next prime minister, while 44 percent voted for PM Narendra Modi and 39 percent for Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
Another survey conducted by VDP Associates, claims that the TRS is all set to win at least 80 seats, while the Congress is expected to win around 20 seats. The survey predicts that the BJP will win seven seats, with the AIMIM getting eight.
What You Must Know About Telangana Polls 2018
According to the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), there are 438 crorepati candidates and 368 candidates with criminal cases pending against them.
Voting Begins in Telangana
Voting in India’s youngest state, Telangana, has started.
Polling will be held from 7 am to 5 pm in 106 constituencies, while in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected constituencies, the polling will conclude at 4 pm.
BJP Party President Amit Shah Urges Voters to Cast Their Votes
BJP President Amit Shah took to Twitter to urge the voters of Telangana to come out and vote in “large numbers”.
1,821 Candidates in the Fray
Around 2.61 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,821 candidates in the first election after Telangana was formed.
Glitches Hamper Polling in a Polling Station in Amberpet
Voting is yet to begin at a polling station in GHMC Indoor Stadium, Amberpet due to a technical problem, reported ANI.
Irrigation Minister Casts His Vote
State Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao casts his vote in Siddipet constituency. Rao is the nephew of TRS chief and caretaker Chief Minister KCR.
Rao representa the Siddipet Assembly constituency which is considered a TRS stronghold.
Volunteers for the Support of PwD Voters
Security Beefed up in Areas Identified as Left Wing Extremist Affected
A senior police official told news agency PTI that security was beefed up at bordering areas which were identified as Left Wing Extremist-affected regions.
The Assembly polls in Telangana were originally scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections next year, but the House was dissolved prematurely on 6 September as per a recommendation by the state cabinet.
Prajakutami vs KCR
The Congress has stitched together the 'Prajakutami' (People's Front) along with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) and the Communist Party of India (CPI), to take on the ruling TRS, which is led by caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR).
The TRS, seeking a second term in office, is going alone, as also the BJP.
It is to be seen if TRS president and Caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's gamble to opt for early elections pays off.
Read all you want to know about Telangana elections here.
Huge Amounts of Unaccounted Cash and Liquor Were Seized
Huge sums of unaccounted cash and illegal liquor and other goods were seized since the Model Code of Conduct came into effect on 27 September.
The total seizures stood at nearly Rs 135 crore, including unaccounted cash, illegal liquor and other goods, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajat Kumar said on Thursday, 6 December, adding that the total seizures were 90 percent more than that of the 2014 polls.
Actors Stand in Queue to Cast Their Vote
Telangana Elections: Tight Security Arrangements for Polling
Additional DG (Law and order) Jitender told PTI that about one lakh security personnel, including 25,000 central paramilitary forces and 20,000 from other states, are engaged in poll duties.
More than 1.50 lakh polling officials, including reserve staff, are on duty.
Voters Queue up at Warangal Urban District and Other Polling Stations
BJP Telangana President G Kishan Reddy Casts Vote
BJP Telangana President G Kishan Reddy casts his vote at polling booth number 7 in Kachiguda, Hyderabad.
AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu Urges People to Vote
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu urged people to cast their votes.
Deputy CM Kadiyan Srihari Casts his Vote
Why are the Telangana Elections Important: Key Stats
8.97% Voter Turnout till 9 am
The voter turnout in Telangana stood at 8.97 percent till 9 am, reported ANI.
AIMIM President Owaisi Casts Vote
AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi casts his vote at polling booth number 317 at Mailardevpally, Shastripuram.
TRS MP K Kavitha Stands in Queue to Vote
TRS MP K Kavitha stands in a queue to cast her vote at polling booth number 177 in Pothangal, Nizamabad.
AP Government Declares Holiday for Secretariat Employees
The Andhra Pradesh government has declared a holiday for the secretariat employees and the Heads of Departments (HoD) who had shifted from Hyderabad to Amaravati. According to the Hindustan Times, nearly 3,000 employees are likely to cast their votes.
10.15% Voter Turnout till 9:30 am
Voting turnout recorded till 9.30 am in Telangana is 10.15 percent.
My Name 'Disappeared' From Voters' List: Badminton Player Jwala Gutta
Badminton player Jwala Gutta took to Twitter to say that her name has "disappeared" from the voters' list even though she had checked it online.
Actor Nagarjuna Akkineni Casts Vote
Rohingya Refugees to Be Held If They Vote: Hyderabad EC
According to a report in The New Indian Express, Hyderabad District Election Officer, M Dana Kishore said, that if a Rohingya refugees marked in the Absent, Shifted and Deleted (ASD) list comes to vote then they will be taken into custody.
A list of Rohingyas who have obtained ID cards fraudulently has been obtained.
Telangana Congress Leader Madhu Yaskhi's Convoy Attacked: Report
Congress National Secretary and Spokesperson Madhu Yaskhi's convoy was allegedly attacked by a group of people near Metpally town on Thursday, 6 December, according to The News Minute.
He was on his way to Nizamabad, where he will cast his vote in the state Assembly elections, that are underway across 119 constituencies of Telangana. The glass panes of the Congress leader’s vehicles were shattered in the attack.
Polling Has Been Smooth So Far: CEO
Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajath Kumar told news agency IANS that polling has been peaceful and smooth so far.
However, voting had begun late in some booths due to technical glitches in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Telangana Has Lost 4 Years to Corruption: Surjewala
Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala took to Twitter and said, “The youngest state of India, Telangana has lost four precious years due to Corruption, Commission & Coterie Raj.”
Voter Turnout at 23.4% Till 11:00 am
Congress Candidate Vamshichand Reddy Attacked
Congress candidate Ch Vamshichand Reddy from Kalwakurthy Assembly constituency was reportedly attacked by BJP cadre in Amangal mandal of Nagarkurnool district.
However, BJP responded to the allegation and said that “Congress is playing victim games sensing disastrous defeat.”
Constituency Wise Voter Turnout
Telangana Chief Secretary Casts Vote
Telangana Chief Secretary SK Joshi casts his vote.
Sania Mirza Casts her Vote
Voter Arrested for Clicking Selfie Inside Polling Booth
A youth was arrested for taking selfie while casting his vote in Telangana Assembly elections, reported news agency IANS.
The voter, identified as Shiv Shankar, was arrested by the police on a complaint by polling official at a polling centre in Rajendranagar constituency in Greater Hyderabad.
Officials said the youth was arrested under Representation of People's Act for violating secrecy of voting.
KTR Casts Vote in Hyderabad
Speaking to the media after casting his vote in Hyderabad, TRS leader KT Rama Rao said, “In a democracy where politics decides the future, we have to decide what kind of future politics we want. I hope the people of Telangana come out and vote in large numbers.”
Gutta's Name Missing From Voting List; Manish Sisodia Hits out at ECI
Ater badminton player Jwala Gutta tweeted that she couldn’t cast her vote as her name was missing from the voter’s list, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia hit out at the Election Commission of India demanding answers.
Will Come to Power with a Huge Majority: KCR
Speaking to the media after casting his vote from his native village Chinthamadaka in Siddipet district of Telangana, TRS supremo and Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K Chandhrasekhar Rao said, “This is the second or the third time in the state that an incumbent party will come to power with a huge majority, without any doubt.”
Voter Turnout at 48.09% Till 1:00 pm
Telangana Elections: Will EC Address 30 Lakh Deleted Voters in Telangana Final List?
As the election caravan rolls into Telangana for Assembly polls on 7 December, all eyes will be on the state election commission’s final electoral roll on 19 November.
Primary among the concerns raised to the Election Commission of India and Telangana’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), is the issue of nearly 30 lakh deleted voters from the state’s 2018 electoral roll.
Read the full story here.
People Protest Outside a Polling Sttaion in Chandrayangutta, Hyderabad
Angry voters protest outside a polling station in Chandrayangutta in Hyderabad alleging that their names are missing from the voting list.
Constituency Wise Voter Turnout
Telangana Waives Toll Tax for Voters Heading to Native Places
With hundreds of people from Hyderabad heading to their native places to cast their votes in the Telangana Assembly elections on Friday, the state government decided to exempt them from toll tax.
Chief Secretary SK Joshi issued orders to this effect following a request from Chief Electoral Officer Rajath Kumar.
The poll official told reporters that in view of the reports of long traffic jams at toll plazas, he requested the Chief Secretary to waive the toll tax to enable people to reach their villages faster.
Sonia Gandhi Urges People to Vote for 'Prajakutami'
UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday, 7 December, urged the people of Telangana to cast their votes for ‘Prajakutami’ alliance.
“You have been betrayed by those in power in Hyderabad. Now is the time, wherever you are in Telangana, I appeal to you to vote for Prajakutami,” Gandhi said.
EC Revises Voter Turnout, 43.24% Votes Recorded
Election Commission revises a voter turnout, 43.24 percent votes has been recorded till 1pm across Telangana.
56.17% Votes Recorded Till 3 PM
Voter turnout recorded till 3 PM in Telangana Elections 2018 is 56.17 percent, reported ANI, quoting Election Commission.
Be Vigilant, Rahul Gandhi Tweets to Cong Workers
Congress President Rahul Gandhi warned party workers to be “vigilant” after the polling closes in Rajasthan and Telangana on Friday evening.
“In MP, EVM's behaved strangely after polling. Some stole a van and vanished for two days! Others slipped away and were found drinking in a hotel,” Gandhi tweeted.
Naqvi Demands EC Take Action Against Rahul
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi demanded that the Election Commission take action against Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his interview to a Hyderabad newspaper on 6 December.
Empathise With Jwala Gutta, Will Rectify: Telangana CEO Promises
Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana Rajat Kumar, speaking about shuttler Jwala Gutta’s name missing from voter list, said that he “empathized” with her and that they will rectify the situation soon.
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Published: 06 Dec 2018,09:57 AM IST