By Except for a few minor incidents, the polling for the Telangana Graduates MLC elections concluded peacefully. However, this time, graduates were hesitant to vote, leading to an unexpected decrease in polling percentage. This drop in polling percentage is causing concern among the candidates. Who will benefit from the reduced polling percentage? Who will be at a disadvantage?
Except for a few minor incidents, the polling for the Telangana Graduates MLC elections concluded peacefully. However, this time, graduates were hesitant to vote, leading to an unexpected decrease in polling percentage, causing concern among the candidates. Who will benefit from the reduced polling percentage? Who will be at a disadvantage? There’s intense anticipation about whom the educated voters will favor.
The MLC elections in Telangana were conducted with the intensity of general elections. Apart from minor incidents, the by-elections for the Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Graduates constituency concluded peacefully. However, compared to previous elections, the polling percentage decreased this time. Graduates also showed some laxity in registering as voters, causing concern due to the unexpected drop in polling percentage.
In the 2021 Graduates elections, out of 505,565 voters, 387,989 graduates exercised their voting rights, resulting in a 76.73% turnout. This time, by 4 PM, 68.65% polling was recorded. Those in queues by 4 PM were allowed to vote, and the overall polling percentage was announced as 72.37% by election officials.
In the last MLC elections, BRS candidate Palla Rajeshwar Reddy won with a majority of 12,806 votes. Last year, he contested and won the Janagama Assembly seat, leading to his resignation from the MLC position and necessitating the by-election.
In this by-election, fewer graduates registered to vote compared to last time, with 463,839 graduates registering. Many voters and public representatives, including some ministers and MLAs, did not register to vote due to the busy Parliament elections. Polling was conducted in 605 centers across 34 Assembly constituencies in the combined Warangal, Khammam, and Nalgonda districts, with 52 candidates in the fray.
The decrease in polling percentage compared to the last election has caused concern for some candidates while boosting confidence in others. Candidates are expressing their confidence based on the recorded polling. From the moment polling ended, there has been intense discussion about who will benefit or suffer from the reduced polling percentage. BJP candidate Premender Reddy expressed confidence that anti-government voters exercised their rights, believing these votes would ensure his victory. He is confident that educated voters will send him to the Legislative Council with their first-preference votes, trusting in Prime Minister Modi.
Similarly, BRS candidate Rakesh Reddy is also confident of victory, believing that educated voters have supported him to send a questioning voice like his to the Legislative Council. He is confident that anti-government votes will favor him. Meanwhile, the Congress-backed candidate Chintapandu Naveen, alias Teenmaar Mallanna, believes that pro-government votes have been largely cast, which will aid his victory. He is confident that voters have supported him.
With the decrease in polling percentage compared to last time, there is intense anticipation about whom the graduates will favor this time. The counting of votes for this MLC by-election will take place on June 5, with results to be announced thereafter.
