Municipal polling concludes, counting tomorrow

Polling for the Telangana municipal elections concluded peacefully across 116 municipalities and 7 municipal corporations on Wednesday, with an impressive voter turnout recorded amidst tight security and transparency measures. The voting process, from 7 AM to 5 PM, covered 2,569 wards in municipalities (out of 2,582, with 12 unanimous and one postponed) and 412 wards in corporations (out of 414, with two unanimous). Over 52.17 lakh eligible voters participated at 8,191 polling stations, facilitated by more than 40,000 staff and live webcasting. Counting of votes will be taken up on Friday.

Voter turnout showed steady progress throughout the day. By 9 AM, it stood at 11 % , rising to 28 % by 11 AM, 49 % by 1 PM, and reaching 62 % by 3 PM, according to the Telangana State Election Commission. Officials noted this as an "impressive" figure for urban polls, attributed to awareness campaigns. Authorities allowed queued voters to cast ballots beyond 5 PM, ensuring maximum participation.

Prominent leaders actively participated, underscoring the polls' significance. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy cast his vote at Zilla Parishad High School in Kodangal, Vikarabad district, around 11:30 AM, before returning to Hyderabad. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka voted in Madhira, while Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and other ministers exercised their franchise in respective constituencies. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, BJP's Bandi Sanjay (in Karimnagar with family), and PCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud (in Nizamabad) also voted, urging high turnout to strengthen democracy.

The elections remained largely incident-free, with isolated disruptions. In Karimnagar's 58th division, police lathi-charged BRS workers during BJP protests over alleged bogus voting, injuring several, including six BJP workers and a photographer; extra forces restored calm. Arrests occurred in the 34th division for fraudulent voting supporting an independent, leading to MIM's repolling demands accusing ex-Congress involvement. Clashes between Congress and BRS in Mahabubabad's wards 32, 33, and 14 prompted heavy police deployment. In Nirmal's Bhainsa (ward 9), a Congress candidate's husband was assaulted on CCTV, resulting in a complaint. Vikarabad's Parigi (ward 13, booth 27) saw scuffles over bogus votes. Brief halts in Mahabubnagar's 45th division due to candidate discrepancies fueled BRS agitation, while in Mancherial's Luxettipet, BRS leader P Srinivas was detained amid protests.

High-profile confrontations included BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind rebuking a Nizamabad ACP over a constable allegedly influencing votes for Congress at Booth 7, remarking, "If your constable makes a mistake, it's your fault." In Sangareddy's Ward 34, CI Shivakumar grabbed a Congress candidate's collar, prompting former MLA T. Jaggareddy to intervene, alleging rigging; the incident's video went viral.

Campaigns highlighted welfare and development. Congress, led by CM Revanth Reddy and supported by the entire Cabinet ministers and PCC Chief Mahesh Goud, emphasized schemes. BJP featured Union Ministers Bandi Sanjay, Kishan Reddy, and a few national leaders. BRS, under K.T. Rama Rao and Harish Rao, focused locally despite former CM K. Chandrashekar Rao's limited role.