Telangana Assembly Elections: 10 Key Facts About The Poll-Bound State
A Crowded Field
A total of 2,290 candidates are in the fray for the upcoming elections, including incumbent Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his son K.T. Rama Rao, both from the BRS. The BJPs key candidates include party leaders Bandi Sanjay Kumar, D. Arvind, and Soyam Bapurao.
KCR's Double Bid
Chief Minister Rao is contesting from two constituencies: Gajwel and Kamareddy. The BJP has pitted its MLA, Etala Rajender, against Rao in Gajwel.
A Three-Way Fight
The upcoming election is expected to be a close three-cornered contest between the BRS, which is seeking a third straight term in power, the INC, which is aiming to regain its lost ground, and the BJP, which is emerging as a strong contender in the state.
BRS's Dominance in 2018
In the last Assembly elections in 2018, the BRS, then known as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), won a landslide victory, securing 88 of the 119 seats and 47.4% of the total vote share. The INC was relegated to a distant second with only 19 seats, while the BJP failed to win a single seat.
Massive Poll Security
Over 2.5 lakh personnel will be deployed for poll duties during the November 30 elections, the Election Commission (EC) said.
Electoral Machinery in Place
The has also deployed 3,000 personnel from other uniformed services in Telangana, along with 50 companies of Telangana State Special Police and 375 companies of Central forces for security purposes.
Advance Voting
A total of 26,660 voters have exercised their franchise through the Home Voting facility, allowing them to vote from their homes due to physical disabilities or other valid reasons.
Crackdown on Poll Violations
Law enforcement agencies have seized cash, gold, liquor, and freebies worth over ₹709 crore in poll-bound Telangana since the model code of conduct came into effect in the state on October 9.
Rise in Assets of Re-Contesting MLAs
An analysis by the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) revealed that out of the 103 re-contesting MLAs, the assets of 90 MLAs (87%) have increased by 3% to 1331%. BRS candidate Pailla Shekhar Reddy from Bhongir constituency has declared the highest asset increase, with a spike of ₹136.47 crore, from ₹91.04 crore in 2018 to ₹227.51 crore in 2023.