Telangana Assembly elections see 64% voter turnout, lower than 2018
Rural voters turn out in force, urban areas see tepid response
Hyderabad: Nearly 64 per cent electorate cast their votes in Telangana Assembly elections held on Thursday.
The polling in 13 constituencies ended at 4 p.m. while in the remaining 106 segments it concluded at 5 p.m. Those standing in queues at polling booths at 5 p.m. were being allowed to cast their votes. According to the Election Commission of India, the approximate poll percentage at 5 p.m. was 63.94 per cent.
This is much lower than 73.7 per cent turnout recorded in 2018 elections. Barring minor incidents of clashes between supporters of rival parties, the polling was peaceful. The turnout was poor in state capital Hyderabad and other urban areas despite special campaigns run by the Election Commission and several NGOs.
Hyderabad recorded only 39.97 per cent polling while the adjoining Medchal Malkajgiri and Rangareddy districts had also registered low per centage at 49.25 and 53.03 per cent respectively. Medak registered the highest polling at 80.28 per cent. Jangaon was a close second with 80.23 per cent polling.
Poling came to an end at 4 p.m. in 13 constituencies in areas of Maoist influence in undivided Adilabad and Khammam districts. These constituencies are Sirpur, Chennur, Bellampalli, Mancherial, Asifabad, Manthani, Bhupalapally, Mulugu, Pinapaka, Yellandu, Kothagudem, Aswaraopet and Bhadrachalam.
A little over 3.26 crore voters decided the political fortunes of 2,290 candidates. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 3. The Election Commission had made elaborate arrangements for polling at 35,655 polling stations spread across 33 districts.
The voting began on a dull note at many polling stations but picked up pace later. More than 1.85 lakh polling personnel were deployed while 22,000 micro observers monitored the polling process across the state. Authorities have arranged web casting at 27,094 polling stations across the state.
More than 50,000 police personnel and 375 companies of the central paramilitary forces were deployed. Officials said 23,500 homeguards from neighbouring states were also deployed. Election authorities had arranged 72,931 ballot units or EVMs.
