The high-decibel campaign for the Telangana Assembly polls ends on Tuesday, November 28, at 5 pm. The state has witnessed the longest election season compared to the other four states – Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan – where elections were already taking place. With only two days to go, liquor stores will also remain closed until the end of the elections. Elections will be held in Telangana on November 30.
India’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar announced the election manifesto for the five states on October 9, putting the model code of conduct into effect in the states. Of these states, Telangana is the only state where elections are held.
Led by Prime Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR), the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is trying to retain power for a third consecutive term, while the Congress has been fighting tooth and nail and doing all it can to stage a comeback to make.
The BJP, on the other hand, gave it its all by calling on national-level leaders to make a dent in Telangana’s politics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amith Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh were among the key leaders campaigning for the BJP in Telangana.
However, most of the top leaders of the BJP have returned to their homes. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka are reportedly in Telangana for another day of campaigning, according to a Deccan Chronicle (DC) report.
As many as 2,290 participants are in the fray for the upcoming elections, including 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 seats: Gajwel and Kamareddy, as are Revanth Reddy, Kodangal and Kamareddy. The BJP has fielded its MLA, Etala Rajender, from Gajwel, besides Huzurabad, where he is the sitting legislator.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a dozen rallies during the campaign period, besides a roadshow in Hyderabad on Monday amid much fanfare. Counting votes will start on December 3.
