As Telangana gears up for polling on November 30, the election campaign came to an end on Tuesday, November 28, making it the longest poll season among the five states, including Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, which have already completed their poll.
The impending assembly polls in Telangana will witness a triangular contest involving the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the Congress, and the BJP. The BRS aims to secure power for the third consecutive term, while the Congress vigorously endeavours to make a comeback, and the BJP intensifies efforts to gain a foothold in the state.
The state will witness as many as 2,290 contestants in the fray, including prominent figures such as BRS supremo and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, his minister-son KT Rama Rao, TPCC president A Revanth Reddy, and BJP Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar, D Arvind, and Soyam Bapurao.
KCR is contesting from two constituencies – Gajwel and Kamareddy – while Revanth Reddy is contesting from Kodangal and Kamareddy. The BJP has fielded its MLA, Etala Rajender, from Gajwel and Huzurabad, where he is the incumbent legislator.
‘ECI notice over MCC violation’
The Election Commission imposed the model code of conduct in Telangana after announcing the election schedule on October 9.
Also Read:Poll body issues notice to Congress-led Karnataka govt for placing ads in poll-bound Telangana
Earlier on Monday, the ECI served a notice to the Congress-led Karnataka government for alleged violations by displaying government ads in Telangana, showcasing welfare schemes and Karnataka’s achievements. The ECI sought an explanation by 5 pm Tuesday, deeming it a ‘violation of the spirit of the Model Code of Conduct.’
Additionally, the ECI withdrew its approval granted to the KCR-led Telangana government for disbursing financial aid to farmers under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme. The EC addressed it as a violation of the model code of conduct by a state minister who publicly disclosed information regarding the rabi crops.
Initially, the EC had granted a ‘no objection’ based on the understanding that the Rythu Bandhu scheme’s rabi instalments were disbursed during October-January in the past five years.
In the 2018 state Assembly elections, after securing 88 out of 119 seats in the 2018 state Assembly elections, K. Chandrashekar Rao of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was able to retain his position as chief minister for a second consecutive term. While Congress emerged as the main opposition with 19 seats, smaller parties and independents secured the remaining seats.
The results of the Telangana elections will be declared after the counting of votes scheduled to be held on December 3.