Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made necessary arrangements for conducting byelections to Telangana State Legislative Council from Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Graduates' Constituency on May 27.
A many as 4.63 lakh graduates – 1.73 lakh voters in erstwhile Warangal, 1.23 lakh voters in Khammam and 1.66 lakh voters in Nalgonda district - would cast their votes from the three districts from 8 am to 4 pm in 605 polling booths covering 34 Assembly constituencies, according to officials.
While Congress fielded Teenmar “Mallanna”, BJP G Premchandra Reddy and BRS fielded A Rakesh Reddy. In all, 52 candidates are in the fray. Results would be declared on June 5.
BJP, BRS and Congress competed with each other in attracting voters during the election campaign mainly focusing on the educational background of the candidates.
During the election campaign, BRS working president KT Rama Rao said the party candidate Rakesh Reddy studied in BITS Pilani and won a gold medal apart from working in US for seven yęars. He criticized Mallanna in a gratuitous and insulting manner saying that Mallanna was a “Palli – Batani” and also stated that this election was between BITS Pilani and “Palli Batani”, Congress leaders alleged.
Taking exception to Rao’s comments, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) on Saturday requested Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vikas Raj to use his good offices to take serious action against Rao for making unwarranted, derogatory and scathing remarks against Mallanna. A letter in this regard was submitted to the CEO by the TPCC senior vice-president Mallu Ravi.
Telangana police imposed Section 144 CrPc prohibiting assembly of four or more people in an area in Bhongir Zone of Rachakonda Police Commissionerate limits in view of council elections.
The prohibitory order will remain in force from 4 pm on May 25 to 4 pm on May 27 at all polling locations in the zone till completion of the elections and also on the date of repoll, if any. The EC asked all the private managements and authorities of business, trade, industrial undertaking or other establishments in the State to grant necessary facilities to their employees to cast their vote during election.
