New Delhi: The voter turnout during Telangana Assembly polls on Thursday was at 63.94 per cent till 5 pm, as per the data shared by the Election Commission of India. The polling began at 7 am on all 119 constituencies across the state and concluded at 5 pm on 106 seats. For the 13 seats affected by Left Wing Extremism, polling concluded at 4 pm.


According to the Election Commission of India, the voting percentage increased steadily, with nearly 9% recorded in the first two hours, rising to 20% by 11 am, exceeding 35% by 1 pm, and 50% by 3 pm. 


At 3 pm, the voter turnout in Telangana was recorded at 51.89 per cent as the polling was underway on 119 assembly constituencies across the state. 


Around 3.26 crore registered voters are casting their votes at 35,655 polling stations across the country sealing the fate of 2,990 candidates in fray. 


During the course of polling, Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party president and Union minister G Kishan Reddy wrote a letter to the Election Commission of India alleging that the candidates and workers of ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi were involved in "electoral malpractices".


In his letter, Reddy alleged that BRS workers were moving in groups of 100-200 people around polling stations and the police were not taking action on the same.  


"Police and other officials, instead of taking action against such incidents, they are allowing the BRS workers to attack the BJP workers," the letter read. 


Telangana, with its 33 diverse districts, forms the backdrop for the electoral theatre where 19 seats are reserved for SC candidates, and 12 are earmarked for ST candidates.


The state's political dynamics are influenced by its geographical connections with four states. A network of 35,655 polling centers has been established across the state, reflecting the extensive reach of the democratic process, according to the Election Commission.


The state boasts a substantial electorate, with a total of 3.26 crore eligible voters, including 1,62,98,418 male voters and 1,63,01,705 female voters, as per EC data.


Earlier in the day, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, State BJP president G Kishan Reddy, BRS working president K T Rama Rao, his sister and MLC K Kavitha, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi were among the leaders who exercised their franchise.