Hyderabad: Over 3.17 Crore Voters Set to Cast Ballots in Telangana’s 17 Lok Sabha Constituencies on May 13
As Telangana gears up for polling across all 17 Lok Sabha constituencies on May 13, the Election Commission has orchestrated meticulous arrangements to ensure a peaceful and efficient electoral process.
Additionally, the by-election for the Secunderabad Cantonment Assembly constituency in Hyderabad will also be conducted concurrently.
A total of 3,17,17,389 eligible voters are poised to exercise their voting rights, comprising 1,58,71,493 men, 1,58,43,339 women, and 2,557 individuals identifying as the third gender, according to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vikas Raj. Notably, 20,163 voters have opted for home voting, while over 1.88 lakh poll duty personnel have utilized postal ballot voting.
Across the state, 35,809 polling stations have been established, with staff scheduled to reach their designated stations by Sunday evening.
A robust contingent of 2.94 lakh personnel, including nearly one lakh security personnel, will be deployed for election duty.
A Robust Contest with 525 Candidates
A competitive electoral arena unfolds with 525 candidates vying for victory across all Lok Sabha seats. Notably, the Secunderabad constituency boasts the highest number of candidates at 45, followed by 44 in Medak, 43 in Chevella, and 42 each in Peddapalle (SC) and Warangal (SC) constituencies. Conversely, the Adilabad (ST) constituency sees a lower contest with only 12 candidates.
Prominent contenders include Union Minister and State BJP President G. Kishan Reddy, seeking re-election from Secunderabad, and AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi, pursuing a fifth consecutive term from Hyderabad.
Polling Details and Security Measures
Polling hours are set from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in 106 Assembly segments, with exceptions for 13 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected segments under five Lok Sabha constituencies, where polling concludes at 4 p.m.
To uphold the integrity of the electoral process, a robust security apparatus has been implemented, with 160 companies of central forces deployed alongside personnel from Telangana and neighboring states, as well as other uniformed services.
Comprehensive arrangements for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) include 1,05,019 Balloting Units, 44,569 Control Units, and 48,134 VVPATs. Three engineers from ECIL have been assigned to each Assembly segment to address any EVM malfunctions promptly.
Stringent Enforcement and Regulatory Measures
With the Model Code of Conduct in effect, authorities have initiated 8,600 cases for violations, while enforcement agencies have confiscated cash and other incentives worth Rs. 320.84 crores.
A workforce of 1.96 lakh polling personnel, including sector officers, route officers, and micro-observers, will oversee the electoral process, supported by 3,522 sector officers and route officers.
Inclusive Measures for Voters
The election administration has accommodated 453 auxiliary polling stations to ensure accessibility, with the smallest stations catering to as few as 10 voters each.
Moreover, the transmission of election-related bulk SMSs has been suspended for 48 hours, concluding with the cessation of polling activities.
