Telangana Voting: KCR’s Hat-Trick Bid vs. Congress Resurgence and BJP’s Southern Quest
Hyderabad: Telangana is abuzz with anticipation as voters took to the polls today, deciding the fate of Telangana‘s 119 seats. Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s Bharatiya Rashtra Samiti is fighting a fierce battle against Congress and the BJP in the southern state.
Congress, which formed the government in neighbouring Karnataka, is fighting the election with an aim to form the government in the Telugu-speaking state. The BJP, which suffered a defeat in the Karnataka Assembly election, is also trying to form the government under the leadership of G Kishan Reddy, the state BJP chief.
Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah conducted high-pitched rallies in the southern state, and the state BJP is heavily dependent on the charisma of the PM.
As the sun rose, notable figures like Tollywood star Allu Arjun, former cricketer Mohd Azharuddin, and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy cast their votes, setting the stage for a day of political fervor. BRS lawmaker K Kavitha, embroiled in the Delhi liquor case, also made her mark at the polling booth, while Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao joined the chorus of voters.
Prime Minister Modi urged the people of Telangana to create history by turning out in record numbers, echoing a similar appeal made on the day of the Karnataka assembly poll. Telangana CM KCR is seeking the third straight time in office. He is contesting from two seats: one in Kamareddy district, where he is fighting against Revanth Reddy, TPCC president, and the other in Gajwel, his bastion, where he is fighting against Etala Rajendra.
The BJP, hungry for a strong southern foothold after losing power, grappled with internal dissent over leadership changes and its alliance with actor-politician Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena. The stakes were high for the party, seeking to boost cadre morale ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The five-state assembly elections are considered as the semi-final for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
