Assembly Elections 2023 highlights: Exit polls on November 30 after Telangana goes to vote

Union Minister and BJP Telangana chief, G Kishan Reddy has alleged that the opposition parties like Congress and Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) have been distributing money and liquor in the poll-bound state. G Kishan Reddy said, "Since yesterday morning, different parties, especially Congress and the BRS party, have been distributing money. It is the duty of the Election Commission and officers to stop it. The election should happen peacefully. Freedom should be there. I urge the Election Commission that the distribution of liquor should be stopped. One should not scare anyone. If such work is happening despite the presence of an officer, then action should be taken against that officer. Elections should be peaceful and fair."

BJP leader Konda Vishweshwar Reddy said, "...I would request the people of Telangana to come out and vote in large numbers... The unfortunate thing is that the more educated one is, the less likely they are to vote... They feel that their vote is not important... There is one more reason for this in Telangana... Last time the votes were spread out... If people are living in gated communities, votes are spread out around 28 different polling booths for one gated community... That was a problem we worked out with the EC... Now, in most cases, the polling booth is right in front of your gated community... It is our moral duty to come out and vote..."

Even as Telangana is set to face the third assembly election since its formation in 2014, the growing south-north divide in the state stares at K Chandrashekar Rao’s 10-year rule. Ironically, it was long years of feeling of utter neglect that fuelled the Telangana statehood movement, of which KCR was the biggest proponent. North Telangana from where most of the BRS bigwigs hail from has enjoyed the best of irrigation facilities and the bounty of the Godavari river. In contrast south Telangana has fallen behind as successive governments failed to find solutions to its developmental problems.

"Let them (Election Commission) serve a notice. As far as I know, there is no violation that has happened. There is no question of any violation at all," said BRS leader K T Rama Rao on Hyderabad Police denying permission to the party to host 'Deeksha Diwas' at the party office. The BRS planned to observe "Deeksha Diwas" to mark the anniversary of the 'Hunger Strike' by BRS Chief K C Rao in 2009, which contributed to the statehood.

BJP leader Raja Singh told ANI, one day ahead of polls, "We have a good response from people of Telangana. On 3rd December, lotus will bloom in Telangana. We can win 40 seats and give tough competition to other parties in 50 seats," he said.

Governor Tamilsai Soudararajan urges people to come out and vote on November 30 in large numbers.

The Osmania University in Hyderabad was the epicentre of large-scale student-led protests that eventually led to the formation of Telangana as a separate state in 2014. Back then, students hoped that the creation of a separate state would ensure equal educational and job opportunities for youth who were natives of Telangana. Almost a decade later, the same students who were part of the statehood movement are now seeking to contest in the upcoming elections.

Telangana assembly elections 2023 live updates: Officials prepare for polls 

Preparations underway at Malkajgiri Assembly constituency ahead of polling scheduled to be held on November 30. 

As the state inches closer for polls, Congress party keeps hopes high. Criticising BRS leader and Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari told PTI, "It is an open game in Telangana. Under K Chandrashekar Rao's rule, there is dictatorship in Telangana. Congress will win there."

A case has been booked against Congress Nampally MLA candidate Feroz Khan for allegedly offering an amount of Rs 1 lakh to a voter. The case has been booked under sections 171C, 188 and 123 RP Act, said Hyderabad Police.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leadership expressed confidence in its strategy ahead of the state assembly elections. It also alleged that the Congress and BJP were working together in some constituencies. “People have been making tall claims. But I am certain of the Majlis’ political decision in connection with Telangana elections; Allah will not let it go in vain. Remember, Congress and BJP never want leaders to emerge from within your ranks. They do not want you to become leaders,” said Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi at a public meeting in Khilwat.

As on November 28, law enforcement agencies seized cash, gold, liquor, freebies among others all worth about Rs 737 crore in the state ever since the model code of conduct came into force in the state on October 9, an official release by the

More than 2.5 lakh staff will be engaged in poll duties for the assembly elections, Chief Electoral officer Vikas Raj said. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 3. For the first time in the state, "home voting facility was provided to the persons with disabilities and voters above 80 years.

Of the 103 re-contesting MLAs in Telangana, assets of 90 MLAs (87 percent) have increased in the range of 3 percent to 1331 percent, says a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Pailla Shekar Reddy of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) from Bhongir constituency has declared maximum increase in assets with an increase of Rs 136.47 crores — from Rs 91.04 crore in 2018 to Rs 227.51 crore in 2023.

With all the political parties, big and small, wooing them for their votes, women in the state are set to have their say in the poll outcome this time. The 3,26,18,205 voters enrolled for November 30 elections include 1,63,13,268 men, 1,63,02,261 women and 2,676 third gender persons. Overall, there are only 11,007 more men voters compared to women. However, in as many as 78 constituencies out of 119 across the state, women voters outnumber the men. In the remaining 41 constituencies, mostly concentrated in Hyderabad and Old Rangareddy and Mahbubnagar districts, there are more men voters than women.

With all the political parties, big and small, wooing them for their votes, women in the state are set to have their say in the poll outcome this time. The 3,26,18,205 voters enrolled for November 30 elections include 1,63,13,268 men, 1,63,02,261 women and 2,676 third gender persons. Overall, there are only 11,007 more men voters compared to women. However, in as many as 78 constituencies out of 119 across the state, women voters outnumber the men. In the remaining 41 constituencies, mostly concentrated in Hyderabad and Old Rangareddy and Mahbubnagar districts, there are more men voters than women.

On the last day of the campaigning, Telangana Chief Minister KCR made an emotional appeal to the people of the state, saying he will turn 70 in a few months’ time and all he wishes for is the development of the state as “posts” are not important. He also attacked Congress leaders over the promise of bringing back “Indiramma Rajyam” (rule of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi) if voted to power in Telangana.

In the BJP camp, Rs 15,000 a year is being presently given to women in Madhya Pradesh and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has promised to take it to Rs 36,000 a year ultimately if the party returns to power. The BJP has also promised Rs 12,000 a year to women in Chhattisgarh if it comes to power in the state. But it has not promised any monetary allowance for women in Rajasthan and Telangana if it comes to power in these states on December 3.

Ride-sharing platform Rapido will offer free rides to over 2,600 polling stations in the city on November 30. A press release from the firm said, the initiative reflects Rapido’s commitment to boosting voter turnout in the state, particularly among its predominantly young user base.

Strict measures are being taken by the state police near the AP-Telangana borders ahead of the assembly elections in Telangana. As many as 54 people, including rowdy sheeters and those with a criminal history, were arrested to avert any untoward incidents.

BRS is trying to retain power for a third consecutive term, while the Congress has been fighting tooth and nail and went all out to make a comeback. BJP has been countering Congress’s allegation that the party and the BRS have joined hands in the election.

Polling in all 119 Assembly constituencies in the state is scheduled on November 30. Since many educational institutions serve as the polling stations, authorities have declared a holiday on November 30 too to facilitate polling.

Section 144 has been imposed in the state ahead of tomorrow's voting. Authorities have also ordered the closure of liquor shops for 48 hours. The shops will re-open only after polling comes to an end on Thursday evening. Schools and colleges are also shut for two days