Telangana Election 2023 Highlights: A voter turnout of 70.60 per cent was recorded in elections to the 119-member Telangana Legislative Assembly on Thursday which passed off peacefully, barring a few minor incidents. The polling in all the 119 assembly segments began at 7 AM amid tight security arrangements. It concluded at 4 pm in 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected constituencies, while in the rest 106 others, people could vote till 5 pm. Those who were in the queue before the scheduled closing time were allowed to cast their votes. The results will be announced on December 3. As soon as polling ended, exit polls for the state were out, which predicted advantage for the Congress in the southern state.
Also Read : Telangana Assembly Election 2023 Live Updates Today
Voters exercised their franchise in 35,655 polling stations that were set up across the state. The fate of 2,290 candidates have been sealed. The BRS is trying to retain power for a third consecutive term in the state, while the opposition Congress mounted an all-out effort to unseat the incumbent. The BJP has also conducted an elaborate campaign with a host of top leaders, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing rallies in the state. BRS leader and incumbent Chief Minister KCR has held 96 election rallies.
Telangana elections Live Updates: Polling across 35,655 polling stations begins. Follow Financial Express for all the election relates live updates.
This live blog has ended.
Polling across 119 seats in Telangana has concluded.
According to the election commission of India, till 5 PM, the voter turnout was recorded a 63.94 per cent.
Polling concluded peacefully in the 13 assembly segments affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in Telangana at 4 PM on Thursday, officials said, adding that 51.89 per cent votes were cast by 3 PM in the total 119 constituencies in the state. While polling was to conclude at 4 PM in the LWE-affected constituencies, those who were in queue at closing time were allowed to cast their vote.
Telangana BJP MLA Raja Singh casts his vote in Goshamahal constituency
The BRS in Telangana has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against the Congress alleging that the party used 'deepfake' technology to create fabricated content, targeting BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao and other prominent party leaders and candidates contesting in the Assembly elections in the state.
"I heard that the polling percentage is little low. I request all the young guys, who have their voting ID and election card to come and vote. Come with your families and vote, you should do it," says actor Vijay Deverakonda after casting his vote in Hyderabad.
Congress MP KC Venugopal says, "...Telangana people are also saying that Congress will sweep the election...We will win all the five states. That is what the general impression is..."
On the Supreme Court quashing the reappointment of Kannur University Vice-Chancellor, he says, "It's a clear-cut verdict... Supreme Court has clearly observed in the verdict that the Minister was involved in the process of selecting the Vice Chancellor, which has not happened before."
Telangana Congress Leader G Niranjan has lodged a complaint against BRS MLC K Kavitha on Thursday, accusing her of violating the model code of conduct by "asking for votes" on a polling day.
"Kavita has violated the Election Code by appealing to the people to vote for BRS. While speaking to the media today after exercising her vote at the polling station at DAV School in the Banjara Hills, Kavita appealed to vote for BRS, which is in violation of the Code," the Congress leader alleged in a message.
Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao casts his vote at a polling booth set up in his ancestral village Chintamadaka in Medak district.
AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi casts his vote at a polling booth in Hyderabad. Polling is underway across 119 seats in Telangana.
Till 1 PM, the voter turnout was recorded at 36.68 per cent, according to Election Commission of India data.
BJP leader Bandi Sanjay casts his vote in Karimnagar for the Telangana elections. As many as 2,290 contestants are in the fray, including chief minister KCR, his minister-son K T Rama Rao, state Congress president A Revanth Reddy and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar and D Arvind.
Actor Manoj Manchu casts his vote in Hyderabad.
Till 11 AM, the voter turnout stands 20.64 per cent, according to Election Commission of India data.
Actor Rana Daggubati arrives to cast his vote at FNCC in Hyderabad during Telangana elections.
Actor Junior NTR casts his vote in Hyderabad. Polling is underway across 119 seats in Telangana.
Former PM Narasimha Rao's daughter Surabhi Vani Devi casts her vote in Hyderabad.
On polling day for Telangana Assembly elections, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, "I urge the people of Telangana to exercise their vote to create more confidence in the Constitution, to strengthen the democracy and to ensure that development and communal harmony in the state continues. It is high time that polling percentage rises in urban cities including Hyderabad in the state."
Clash erupts among workers of several political parties at Janagama polling station as polling is underway.
According to the Election Commission of India, Telangana recorded 8.52 per cent voter turnout till 9 am.
"I appeal to all citizens of Telangana to come out and exercise your franchise," says KTR
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Thursday said the people of Telangana have decided that they will choose a transparent and people-friendly government that has a safety net for the disadvantaged. Former party chief Rahul Gandhi urged the people of Telangana to vote in large numbers and vote for the Congress. Polling is underway to elect 119 members of the Telangana Legislative Assembly, with voters queuing up to exercise their franchise amid tight security on Thursday. (PTI)
CM KCR is contesting from two seats: facing off against the Congress' Revanth Reddy in Kamareddy district and competing with the BJP's Etala Rajender in his stronghold of Gajwel. Voting at a booth in Kamareddy experienced a 30-minute pause due to a malfunctioning EVM.
AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi casts his vote in Hyderabad
Actor Chiranjeevi casts his vote
Former cricketer and Congress Jubilee Hills MLA candidate Mohammad Azharuddin casts his ballot. After voting, he said, "It is important to vote. If you don't vote, then you don't have any right to question..."
Telangana BJP chief and Union minister Kishan Reddy casts his vote at a polling booth in Hyderabad's Kachiguda
Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged the residents of Telangana to participate in the elections for the 119-member state Assembly and cast their votes in unprecedented numbers. Using X platform, PM Modi appealed to the people to celebrate the 'festival of democracy' by exercising their voting rights.
"People should come out of their homes and vote. Hyderabad is known for not voting very well. So, we need to increase the voting percentage. Today is the day to strengthen our democracy," says BRS leader Kavitha Kalvakuntla.