The Assembly elections in Telangana ended peacefully on Thursday, with only a few incidents of police lathi-charge and two deaths due to health issues. The voter turnout is expected to be around 70%, lower than the previous election. The city had a poor voting percentage of 39%, raising concerns for the BRS and Congress parties.
Despite the BRS’s confidence in hitting a hat-trick, the exit polls have dampened their spirits. The Congress, on the other hand, is elated with the exit poll predictions and believes that the new CM will be sworn in on December 9 as planned.
These elections in Telangana hold significance for the Congress as they are seen as semi-finals before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The party aims to prove that it can halt the BJP’s progress in the southern states, as seen in Andhra Pradesh where the BJP’s alliance with the TDP resulted in decreased prospects.
According to the exit polls, the BRS might face difficulties in North Telangana, known for its separate state movement and significant Dalit and tribal populations. The South Telangana region is predominantly tribal and leftist, making it unlikely for the saffron flag of the BJP to gain much traction.
The polling was active in rural areas throughout the day, with a lull during noon and a surge in the last two hours. The fate of around 2,500 candidates now rests with the EVMs.
Unfortunately, there were two tragic incidents during the elections. A woman named Gangamma (78) died due to epilepsy while voting at a polling station in Adilabad town. In another incident, Chandragiri Rajanna (65) suffered a cardiac arrest while standing in line to vote.
There were also clashes between BRS and Congress activists in various constituencies, including Kamareddy, Ibrahimpatnam, Medak, Alair, and others. Tensions were high in Indiranagar in the Kamareddy constituency when BRS leaders opposed the visit of candidate A Revanth Reddy. Similar clashes occurred in Narsapur and Ibrahimpatnam Municipality Khanapur.
In Naganpally village, police lathi-charged voters, resulting in serious injuries to Kuthati Sivakumar and several others. At the Vijaymeri polling station in Bodhan Assembly Constituency, there were clashes between Congress and BRS workers, which were eventually quelled by police intervention.
