Hyderabad: Amid the electoral fervor preceding the Lok Sabha polls in Telangana, footage surfaced on social media capturing Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy engaging in a game of football at the University of Hyderabad (UoH), a day prior to the elections.
Sporting an ‘INDIA’ jersey, Revanth Reddy was seen actively participating in football activities on the university grounds, following weeks of extensive campaigning across the state and the nation, aimed at bolstering the prospects of the Congress party in the impending polls.
Sharing the video of his recreational pursuit, he articulated, “Until yesterday, the campaign for the Parliament election was at its peak. While preparing to resume public service from tomorrow… engaged in a game of football with young players at the Central University ground. Encouraging the youth of Telangana in sports is paramount to representing the Indian flag on international sports platforms.”
The intense campaign period for the Lok Sabha polls in Telangana concluded at 6 PM on Saturday, with the Election Commission overseeing preparations for the bypoll scheduled for the Secunderabad (Cantonment) Assembly seat on May 13.
Addressing the media earlier in the day, State Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj announced the cessation of all election-related activities, including public gatherings, post 6 PM.
Raj further disclosed that approximately Rs 320 crore worth of cash, freebies, and other materials have been confiscated thus far during the election period.
The enforcement of the model code of conduct in the state was initiated subsequent to the announcement of the election schedule by the Elections Commission on April 16.
An estimated 3.31 crore voters are anticipated to exercise their franchise across 35,356 polling stations throughout the state.
A total of 625 candidates, including Union Minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy, BJP’s national general secretary Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and senior leader Etala Rajender are among the contenders from the saffron party. Meanwhile, the Congress has fielded candidates such as BRS defectors Danam Nagender and K Kavya.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi is seeking re-election from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, facing competition from BJP’s K Madhavi Latha, while former IPS officer RS Praveen Kumar and incumbent MP Nama Nageswar Rao are among those contesting from the BRS faction led by former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Vote counting is scheduled for June 4 nationwide.
In addition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, Congress leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy have actively campaigned for their respective party candidates.
The Congress campaign has emphasized the importance of reservations for SC, ST, and OBC communities, accusing the BJP of potentially abolishing quotas if re-elected to power. It also highlighted the fulfillment of five out of six promises made during the Assembly polls by the Congress government in Telangana.
Conversely, the BJP’s campaign focused on allegations that the Congress party intends to reallocate reservations to “Muslims” and referenced controversial remarks made by Congress leader Sam Pitroda regarding “race and skin colors of Indians.”
The campaign led by the BRS, under former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s leadership, highlighted the perceived shortcomings of the incumbent Congress government while also critiquing the BJP on various issues.
A press release from the Telangana Director General of Police’s office stated that over 73,000 civil police, 500 sections of state special police, 164 companies of central armed police forces, three companies of Tamil Nadu police, 2,088 officials from other departments, and 7,000 home guards have been deployed as part of security measures.
Furthermore, all vehicles transporting Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines are equipped with GPS systems and provided with armed security by central forces, according to a press release from the Chief Electoral Officer.
In the 2019 Parliamentary elections, Telangana recorded a 62 percent voter turnout, with the BRS (formerly TRS) securing nine seats, BJP winning four, Congress clinching three, and AIMIM securing one seat.
