High-octane polling in Telangana ends peacefully
The Hindu
Telangana polls witnessed peaceful voting with low turnout. CM K. Chandrashekhar Rao, TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy, BJP State chief G. Kishan Reddy, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and Minister for IT K.T. Rama Rao voted in the city. Tension prevailed in some areas due to clashes between BRS and Congress workers. Police made tight security arrangements with Central paramilitary forces and police personnel from other States.
Telangana witnessed relatively peaceful polling on Thursday with no major untoward incidents and the most disappointing factor being low voter turnout compared to the previous elections despite the high-octane campaign.
Polling was held for 119 seats with Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao seeking a third term and the Congress challenging him based on the ‘failed’ promises and anti-incumbency factor coupled with its six promises to the Telangana people. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was the other major player.
The voter turnout stood at 63.94% as per the latest reports but the exact figure is likely to come late in the night on Thursday. Compared to previous years low voter turnout was witnessed in majority areas and Hyderabad was the worst with the poll percentage touching 40% compared to 50% in 2018.
Jangaon saw 80.23% and other districts that saw decent voter turn out included Medak (80.28%), Warangal (73.04%), Wanaparthy (72.60%), Kamareddy (71%), Karimnagar (69.22%), Peddapalli (69.83%), Nizamabad (68.30%), Rangareddy (53.03%).
Polling started at 7 a.m. sharp but the poll percentage did not pick up till lunchtime. The maximum number of voters turned up between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. and long queues were seen even after the polling time of 5 p.m. ending. However, those who entered the stations before the deadline were allowed to vote.
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao cast his vote in his native village Chintamadaka, in Siddipet district along with his wife while TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy cast his vote in Kodangal from where he is contesting. He held a Go Puja at his home in Kodangal before the polling seeking divine blessings.
Other top leaders like BJP State chief G. Kishan Reddy, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and Minister for IT K.T. Rama Rao among others voted in the city. Film stars and other celebrities have also exercised their franchise since morning at various polling booths in the city.
