Congress leads in Telangana polls, BJP improves its tally

The verdict on Telangana Polls is almost over. The counting of votes for the Telangana assembly elections 2023 began today at 8 am amid tight security and Covid-19 protocols. The elections were held on November 30 in a single phase for 119 seats.

According to the latest trends available at 12:30 pm, the Congress-led alliance is leading on 65 seats, followed by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on 40 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had won only one seat in the 2018 polls, appears to have improved its performance in the state with a lead in nine seats. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which has a strong base in Hyderabad, is leading on four seats.

The results are expected to be declared by evening. The majority mark is 60 in the 119-member assembly.

Telangana Polls Verdict: Congress Heading to form Government in the state

The Telangana Polls are seen as a crucial test for the TRS, which had swept the 2018 polls by winning 88 seats. The party had also won the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in the state by bagging nine out of 17 seats. However, the TRS faced a tough challenge from the Congress-led alliance, which comprises the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS). The alliance had campaigned on the issues of unemployment, farmer distress, corruption and Covid-19 mismanagement.

The BJP, which had emerged as the main opposition party in Bihar and West Bengal earlier this year, had also made an aggressive bid to expand its footprint in Telangana. The party had deployed several senior leaders and ministers, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda, to campaign in the state. The BJP had promised to implement the central schemes, such as Ayushman Bharat and PM Kisan, in Telangana if voted to power. The party had also raised the issues of illegal immigration, religious conversion and cow protection.

The AIMIM, led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, had contested on eight seats in its stronghold of Old City and had extended support to TRS on other seats. The party had appealed to the Muslim voters to reject the Congress and the BJP, accusing them of being communal and anti-minority.

The voter turnout in the Telangana polls was recorded at 51.89%, slightly lower than the 2018 polls when it was 53.37%. The polling was largely peaceful, except for some minor incidents of violence and technical glitches.

The Telangana elections are also being seen as a precursor to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as they will indicate the mood of the voters in one of the key southern states.