The Assembly elections in Telangana concluded on Thursday, November 30, with 119 seats up for grabs and intense competition between the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) and the Congress. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeks to make significant inroads in the state, challenging the decade-long rule of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR). Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) also remains a prominent player in the electoral landscape.
In a neck-and-neck battle, opinion polls suggest that the Congress poses a formidable challenge to KCR’s tenure as the chief minister. KCR, contesting from both Gajwel and Kamareddy, faces stiff competition from a field of 2,290 contestants, including his minister-son KT Rama Rao. The BJP has fielded Lok Sabha members Bandi Sanjay Kumar, D Arvind, and Soyam Bapu Rao, aiming to make significant gains in the state.
Key Congress leaders in the fray include Revanth Reddy, contesting from Kodangal and Kamareddy, and former cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin, who is vying for victory in Jubilee Hills. AIMIM’s Akbaruddin Owaisi, a prominent leader, contests from Chandrayangutta.
The 2018 elections saw the BRS secure 88 out of the 119 seats, leaving Congress trailing with only 19 seats. The BJP managed to secure just one seat. The question now looms: will KCR secure a third term as Telangana’s chief minister, or will the Congress manage to seize power in the southern state? Additionally, all eyes are on whether the BJP can make a substantial dent in the state’s vote share.
Amidst the political fervor, popular actor Ram Charan exercised his democratic right by casting his vote at a polling booth in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. After voting, he urged citizens to actively participate in the democratic process, emphasizing the importance of voting.
Notably, AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi also cast his vote in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, contributing to the democratic exercise. As the voting concluded, actor Vijay Deverakonda expressed concern over reported low voter turnout and called upon young voters with valid identification to come out and vote, urging them to bring their families along.
As the election results unfold, the political landscape in Telangana is poised for potential shifts, with parties anxiously awaiting the verdict of the electorate. The outcome will not only determine the leadership of the state but also reflect the dynamics of political influence in the region.
