The Election Commission (EC) announced on Wednesday an extension of polling hours for the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana due to prevailing heatwave conditions in the state. The revised polling hours will now be from 7 am to 6 pm, instead of the earlier 7 am to 5 pm timing.
Polling for all 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held on May 13, marking the fourth round of the seven-phase elections.
The extended voting time will apply to all assembly segments within 12 Lok Sabha constituencies. However, in the remaining five parliamentary seats, the revised timing will be applicable only in specific assembly segments, as stated in a notification issued by the commission. These include Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Zahirabad, Medak, Malkajgiri, Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Chevella, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool (SC), Nalgonda, and the Bhongir Lok Sabha seat.
Furthermore, the new timing will also affect five assembly segments of the Adilabad Lok Sabha seat, three segments of the Peddapalle seat, six segments of the Warangal (SC) seat, three segments of the Mahabubabad (ST) seat, and five segments of the Khammam Lok Sabha seat, according to the Election Commission’s notification.
The decision to extend polling hours was made following a request from the Telangana chief electoral officer. This decision was prompted by representations received from various political parties and contesting candidates regarding the adverse impact of the heatwave on voter turnout in the state.