The campaigning phase for the Lok Sabha and Assembly by-election in Telangana, as well as simultaneous elections in Andhra Pradesh, ended at 6 pm on Saturday. However, door-to-door campaigning is allowed by the ECI until 10 pm on Sunday.
Polling will take place on May 13 from 7 am to 6 pm, except in 13 Maoist-affected Assembly Constituencies where polling will end at 4 pm. The Government has declared May 13 a holiday to encourage voter turnout.
In Telangana, there are 525 candidates contesting for 17 Lok Sabha seats. The ECI has ordered webcasting in 33,000 out of the 35,000 polling booths in the State. Additionally, wine shops will be closed from 6 pm on Saturday until the polling process is completed.
Telangana’s Chief Electoral Officer, Vikas Raj, announced that Section 144 will be in force throughout the State starting from 6 pm on May 11. He also stated that no electronic media canvassing will be allowed after this time. Raj warned of action against official establishments that do not declare a holiday for their staff on Monday.
In terms of security, DGP Ravi Gupta mentioned that the Telangana State Police has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure peace and order during the polling activities. These arrangements include various law enforcement agencies and security checkpoints set up across the State.
On the political front, the BRS has seen a resurgence after its recent setback in the Assembly elections, pushing the Congress to a third position in many Lok Sabha Constituencies. The BJP and BRS are now leading in these areas, with star campaigners like PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah playing a crucial role.
In Andhra Pradesh, campaigning for 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in the fourth phase has also ended. Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena assured that the ECI has taken necessary precautions for free and fair polling in the State.
The YSRCP has given a tough fight to the NDA in Andhra Pradesh, with region-wise public meetings boosting their campaign. The delay in candidate announcements by the TDP-JSP-BJP alliance has further strengthened YSRCP’s position in the State’s elections.
