Hyderabad: Polling for the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana has come to and end as voters queued up the entire day on Monday, May 13, starting at 7 AM.
The final numbers are yet to be released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), but the latest voter percentage at 5 PM across state stood at 61.16 percent.
Over 3.31 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in 35,356 polling stations across the state.
The Election Commission has also made arrangements to conduct a bypoll for the Secunderabad (Cantonment) Assembly seat to be held simultaneously today.
Voter turnout
| Constituencies | 9 AM (% vote) | 11 AM | 1 PM | 3 PM | 5 PM |
| Hyderabad | 5.06 | 10.70 | 19.37 | 29.47 | 39.17 |
| Adilabad | 13.22 | 31.51 | 50.18 | 62.44 | 69.81 |
| Bhongir | 10.54 | 27.97 | 46.49 | 62.05 | 72.34 |
| Chevella | 8.29 | 20.35 | 34.56 | 45.35 | 53.15 |
| Karimnagar | 10.23 | 26.14 | 45.11 | 58.24 | 67.67 |
| Khammam | 12.24 | 31.56 | 50.63 | 63.67 | 70.76 |
| Mahbubabad | 11.94 | 30.70 | 48.81 | 61.40 | 68.60 |
| Mahbubnagar | 10.33 | 26.99 | 45.84 | 58.92 | 68.40 |
| Malkajgiri | 6.2 | 15.05 | 27.69 | 37.69 | 46.27 |
| Medak | 10.99 | 28.32 | 46.72 | 60.94 | 71.33 |
| Nagarkurnool | 9.81 | 27.74 | 45.88 | 57.17 | 66.53 |
| Nalgonda | 12.8 | 31.21 | 48.48 | 59.91 | 70.36 |
| Nizamabad | 10.91 | 28.26 | 45.67 | 58.70 | 67.96 |
| Peddapalle | 9.53 | 26.17 | 44.87 | 55.92 | 63.86 |
| Secunderabad | 5.4 | 15.77 | 24.91 | 34.58 | 42.48 |
| Warangal | 8.97 | 24.18 | 41.23 | 54.17 | 64.08 |
| Zaheerabad | 12.88 | 31.83 | 50.71 | 63.96 | 71.91 |
Updates:
06:29 PM: Mild tension prevailed in the city as a few locals protested against BJP Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency candidate Madhavi Latha after she forced some burqa-clad women who came to vote to show their faces to check their voter ID cards.
05:50 PM: On case against BJP Hyderabad candidate Madhavi Latha for conducting verification of burqa clad women voters, Hyderabad Commissioner of Police Srinivas Reddy said: “…ARO has given a complaint against one candidate for checking the identity of voters that is not her job. It is the job of polling officers not even the police. After registering the case, we are investigating it now.”
05:44 PM: Voter turnout for Secunderabad Cantonment Assembly by election stood at 47.88 percent till 5 PM
05:34 PM: Voter turn out at 61.16 percent till 5 PM across Telangana, Bhongir tops at 72.34%, followed by Zaheerabad at 71.91%, Khammam at 70,76%, Nalgonda at 70.36 and Adilabad at 69.81 percent. Hyderabad stood lowest at 39.17 percent.
05:29 PM: In a fresh case, Hyderabad BJP candidate Madhavi Latha has been booked by the Mangalhat police for allegedly using dummy electronic voting machines (EVMs) to manipulate voters in the locality.
The police initially detained two BJP workers for using fake EVMs to influence voters, but Latha intervened and managed to secure their release and also took away the seized dummy EVMs.
05:24 PM: 39.92 percent voting polled at Secunderabad cantonment board Assembly by election till 3 PM
05:00 PM: Polling which began at 7 am will end by 6 pm, barring at a few places where it will conclude two hours earlier. No law and order problems had been reported till noon, state Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj said.
“We are hoping that our poll percentages will be quite good compared to the 2019 Parliament elections,” he said. He said an enquiry is going on into some complaints that have been received.
04: 45 PM: Actor Mahesh Babu along with his wife Namrata Shirodkar arrived to cast his vote at Jubilee Hills public school polling station in Hyderabad.
04:43 PM: Actor Ram Charan and his wife Upasana Kamineni cast their votes at a polling booth in Jubilee Hills.
04:27 PM: Amid low voter turnout in Hyderabad, volunteers went door-to-door in several localities to urge people to cast their vote in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Voting time in Hyderabad is extended to 6pm amid heatwave alert.
03:48 PM: Voter turnout at 52.34 percent till 3 PM across Telangana. Zaheerabad tops list at 63.96, followed by Khammam-63.67, Adilabad-62.44 and Bhongir at 62.05 percent. Voter percentage in Hyderabad at 29.47 percent, the lowest in the list
03:02 PM: BJP candidate from Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, Madhavi Latha says, “90% of booths are compromised. Police do not want to instruct female constables to check the face with the voter ID. When I asked the police officer, he said it’s not his responsibility…”
A case was filed against her for under sections 171C, 186, 505(1)(c) of IPC and Section 132 of the Representation of the People Act for verifying identities of burqa clad voters
1:37 PM: Voter turnout in Telangana touches 40.38% till 1 PM, crosses 50 percent in Zaheerabad, Khammam and Adilabad. Turnout in Hyderabad stood at 19.37 percent
1:17 PM: After casting her vote in Hyderabad, Indian badminton player Jwala Gutta says, “Voting is our right. People should come and vote. This is also a message to those in power that we can bring you to power and if you are not doing the right thing for the country and society, then we can also bring you down…”
1:13 PM: BJP files complaint with Election Commission over Revanth’s remarks, calls it violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)
12:38 PM: To a question on a viral video of BJP candidate for Hyderabad Madhavi Latha questioning Muslim women voters, chief minister Revanth Reddy said he has not yet seen the video. “I have not seen (the video) but BJP is simply trying to polarise Muslim votes to win but all these issues are going to help Asaduddin Owaisi. It is not going to benefit BJP…” he said.
12:26 PM: Rachakonda Commissioner of Police Tarun Joshi casts his vote in Gopalapuram in Secunderabad.
12:09 PM: Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for Lok Sabha Nizamabad constituency Arvind Dharmapuri questions election officers why Muslim women wearing burqa are allowed to cast vote. “How would we know if she is a voter or not? Are you just time passing here or doing your duty,” he is heard saying in the video.
11:54 AM: Former Telangana chief minister and BRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) exercises his voting rights in Chintamadaka village in Siddipet.
Later, on being questioned by reporters about a possible alliance with INDIA bloc, the former chief minister said that it is time for regional parties to hold the power at the Centre. “The voting percentage should be a minimum of 65-70%…That is the situation which is forming in the country (increased role of regional parties), there is no doubt about it,” he said.
“According to the BJP’s own rule, after 75 years of age nobody will take up any position. So, accordingly, Mr Modi has to step down. It is quite possible. It is up to the BJP people…There is nothing like a bloc,” he added.
11:53 AM: Bharath Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K T Rama Rao (KTR) arrives at the polling booth to caste his vote. While speaking to mediapersons, he exhibited confidence. “We are very confident and hopeful as well. Our best tally was 11 and this time we are hoping for more. The big man who cheated India 10 years ago has been completely outed and people have realised their mistake. The small man here in Telangana who cheated us five months ago has also been outed… Prime Minister has been campaigning across the country but he has been dishing out step-motherly treatment to Telangana with no Central university, no hospital given in 10 years,” he said.
11:37 AM: Voter turnout across Telangana till 11 AM is at 24.31, Zahirabad, Adilabad, Khammam and Nalgonda register over 31 percent voter turnout, Hyderabad at 10.7%
11: 30 AM: Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Bhatti Vikramarka exercised his right to vote along with his family members during the polling of the Lok Sabha elections.
11:26 AM: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy arrives at a polling station in Kodangal in Mahabubnagar constituency, to cast his vote.
11:24 AM: BRS working president casts his vote in Hyderabad
10:48 AM: Minister Ponnam Prabhakar exercised his right to vote with his family members at the Government Junior College in Husnabad.
10:27 AM: Senior BRS leader and former minister T Harish Rao cast his vote along with his family in Siddipet
10:21 AM: Nagarkurnool BRS LS candidate RS Praveen Kumar cast his vote in Alampur
10:13 AM: BRS LS Medak candidate P Venkatarami Reddy casts vote in Tellapur
10:11 AM: BRS senior leader and former minister Jagadish Reddy casts vote in Suryapet
10:10 AM: Chevella LS Congress candidate cast their vote along with his family at Yenkapalli village, Moinabad mandal
“Today, I casted my vote along with my family members in Yenkapalli village, Moinabad mandal. I request each and every one of you to please exercise your right and cast your vote today. Voting is open until 6pm. Every vote counts,” he said, in a post on X.
10:07 AM: TSRTC MD VC Sajjanar casts vote along with his family
09:54 AM: Actor Srikanth casts his vote at a polling booth in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.
09:50 AM: After casting his vote, Director SS Rajamouli says “Show the country that we are responsible and we do care. Please come out and vote…” His son, SS Karthikeya says “I request everyone to come and exercise your vote. It is our responsibility and we need to fulfill that…”
09:38 AM: Voter turnout in Adilabad at 13.22%, Bhongir-10.54%, Chevella-8.29%, Karimnagar-10.23%, Khammam-12.24%, Mahabubabad-11.94%, Mahbubnagar-10.33%, Malkajgiri-6.2%, Medak-10.99%, Nagarkurnool-9.81%, Nalgonda-12.8%, Nizamabad-10.91%, Peddapalle-9.53%, Secunderabad-5.4%, Warangal-8.97%, Zahirabad-12.88% till 9 AM.
09:34 AM: Voter turnout in Telangana till 9 AM was at 9.51 percent, as per the data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI). In Hyderabad, it was at 5.06 percent.
09:30 AM: Jaya, daughter of former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, shows her indelible ink mark on her finger after voting at a polling booth in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.
Jaya says, “Please cast your vote. It is very precious. It’s your responsibility to select the candidate who is good and who can do a lot of things for the welfare of the people.”
09:15 AM: Dr K Laxman, National President of BJP OBC Morcha casts his vote at a polling booth in Hyderabad, Telangana
09:14 PM: EVM malfunctioning reported at Boinpet in Mathani, Mahabubabad, Sircilla and Bhupalpally, Marrigadda in Chendurthy, Dubbaka, Narsingi, Ghousnagar-Bhuvangiri, Machupet-Peddapalli, Jaitya Thanda-Nalgonda and Habsiguda
09:12 PM: Oscar-winning music composer and Padma Shri awardee, MM Keeravani arrives at a polling booth in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad to cast his vote.
09:10 PM: BJP MP and candidate from Karimnagar Bandi Sanjay Kumar, along with his family, shows the indelible ink mark on his finger after voting at a polling booth in the constituency. Congress has fielded Velichala Rajendar Rao against him while BRS has fielded Vinod Kumar Boianapalli here.
08:47 PM: Cinematographer-director-screenwriter Tej arrives at a polling booth in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad to cast his vote
After voting, Teja says, “Don’t sit at home. Step out and vote so that you don’t complain later that your government is not good…”
08:42 AM: A senior citizen voter in a wheelchair assisted by polling volunteers at a polling booth in Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad
08:34 AM: After casting his vote in Hyderabad, film star Chiranjeevi Konidela says, “I request people to exercise their right to vote. Please come and cast your vote…”
08:31 AM: ‘Pushpa’ fame Allu Arjun and ‘RRR’ fame Jr NTR arrives at a polling booth in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad to cast his vote
08:15 AM: After casting his vote in Hyderabad, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Secunderabad Parliamentary constituency, G Kishan Reddy says, “… I have come with family and friends who have cast their vote with me. Polling day is declared a holiday so that you all can cast your vote. Do not consider it a regular holiday. Please go out and vote and then enjoy your day. PM Narendra Modi reiterates that this is a festival of democracy… Dr APJ Abdul Kalam used to say that voting is a fundamental right and it is a responsibility. I urge everyone, whenever your state or region goes to polls, please go out and vote for the country’s development, security, and welfare…”
07:58 AM: AIMIM candidate from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi shows his inked finger after casting his vote at a polling booth in Hyderabad
07:58 AM: A senior citizen voter in a wheelchair assisted by polling volunteers at a polling booth in JubileeHills in Hyderabad. Voting for the fourth phase of General Elections 2024 is underway
07:24 AM: BJP candidate from Hyderabad, Madhavi Latha casts her vote at a polling booth in the constituency. She faces sitting MP and AIMIM candidate Asaduddin Owaisi and BRS’ Gaddam Srinivas Yadav here.
EC’s preparations for LS polls
The counting of votes will be taken up on June 4 nationwide.
Telangana recorded 62 per cent voter turnout in the 2019 Parliamentary elections.
A contingent of 73,000 civil police personnel, 500 sections of the state special police, 164 companies of central armed police forces, three companies of Tamil Nadu police, 2,088 officials from other departments and 7,000 home guards have been deployed as part of security measures, the Telangana DGP office said.
All vehicles carrying EVMs and VVPATs are fitted with GPS systems and provided invariably with armed security by central forces.
Key candidates
As many as 625 candidates, including Union Minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy, the party’s national general secretary Bandi Sanjay Kumar and senior leader Etala Rajender are among the saffron party candidates while the Congress fielded among others, BRS turncoats Danam Nagender and K Kavya.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi is seeking re-election from the party’s bastion- the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency- and the BJP has fielded a political novice but enthusiastic K Madhavi Latha who ran a spirited campaign.
Former IPS officer RS Praveen Kumar and sitting MP Nama Nageswar Rao, among others, are in the poll fray from former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS.
High decibel campaign
After a high decibel campaign, including by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top leaders of Congress and BRS, polling began at 7 AM and will end by 6 PM, barring a few places where it will conclude two hours earlier.
Apart from Prime Minister Modi, several union ministers including Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, and Congress leaders Mallikrajun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy canvassed for their respective party candidates.
The Congress campaign centered around reservations for SC, ST and OBC alleging that BJP, if voted to power at the Centre again, will try to abolish quota for the above sections. It also highlighted the implementation of five out of the six Assembly poll guarantees in Telangana by the party-led government.
The BJP focussed mainly on how the grand old party will allegedly try to snatch away reservations and allot it to “Muslims” and controversial comments by Congress leader Sam Pitroda on “race and skin colours of Indians”.
The BRS campaign, led by former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, highlighted the failures of the incumbent Congress government, besides attacking the BJP on various issues.
The BRS (then TRS) won nine seats, BJP – four, Congress – three and AIMIM – one seat in the 2019 general elections.
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