Telangana Elections: BJP and Congress Strive to Prevent KCR’s Third Consecutive Victory
Voting commenced this morning for the 119 seats in Telangana, with the incumbent BRS party encountering competition from the Congress and BJP. Amidst the prevailing anti-incumbency sentiments, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is relying on social welfare initiatives in his bid for a third successive term.
Numerous notable figures, including ex-cricketer Mohd Azharuddin, the Congress nominee for Jubilee Hills, and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, who serves as the BJP’s state chief, participated in the early voting. BRS legislator K Kavitha, who faced inquiries in the Delhi liquor case, also cast her vote. Additionally, Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao exercised his voting rights. The voter turnout stood at 20.6 percent as of 11 am.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advocated for a “historic voter turnout” in the ongoing election. As a key figure in the BJP’s campaign in the state, the PM has encouraged the people of Telangana to actively participate in the democratic process, emphasizing the need to “bolster the festival of democracy.” In a post on X as the voting commenced at 7 am, he specifically urged young and first-time voters to make use of their voting rights.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, commonly known as KCR, is scheduled to cast his vote at a polling station in Naveen Nagar, located in Hyderabad’s Banjara Hills. Recognized as the key figure behind the creation of Telangana in 2014, his political party, BRS, has emerged victorious in both Assembly elections since then. Relying on the steadfast support of the people and the success of various social welfare initiatives, KCR aims to secure another win in the upcoming elections.
Today, he is running for office in two constituencies, facing off against Congress’ Revanth Reddy in Kamareddy and the BJP’s Etala Rajender in his stronghold of Gajwel. There was a 30-minute pause in voting at a Kamareddy booth due to a malfunctioning EVM.
The Congress has received a significant boost from its recent triumph in neighboring Karnataka, where it convincingly defeated the BJP. Under the leadership of Revanth Reddy, the newly appointed state head, the party is asserting itself with confidence.
According to the party, it has narrowed the gap with the BRS. Additionally, the Congress anticipates benefiting from potential voter disenchantment following corruption allegations made by the BJP against KCR. To add to the intrigue, the party has alleged an undisclosed agreement between its two primary competitors.
The political scenario has intensified with K Kavitha facing inquiries from central agencies in the Delhi liquor policy case. The party emphasizes that she hasn’t been arrested, distinguishing her from the likes of ex-Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and AAP leader Sanjay Singh, both implicated in the same case.
The Prime Minister’s bold assertion that KCR sought inclusion in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has further fueled the Congress’s perceived advantages. As the BJP and BRS exchange criticisms in the lead-up to the polls, the Congress aims to capitalize on the ongoing political dynamics.
At present, the BJP finds itself without a government in the southern region and is eager for a robust performance, if not a victory, in the upcoming election to bolster the morale of its cadre ahead of the Lok Sabha election. However, there are challenges. The decision to replace Bandi Sanjay with Union Minister Kishan Reddy as the state leader has faced scrutiny, as has the party’s alliance with actor-politician Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena. Telangana, the final state in a series of five elections alongside Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Mizoram, is viewed as a crucial semi-final before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The results for all five states will be tallied on Sunday.
