Telangana elections: Polling begins amid tight security

Polling began amid elaborate arrangements in all 119 Assembly constituencies in Telangana on Thursday morning. Voting began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm.

The youngest state in India is poised to elect representatives for the third time. As many as 2,290 candidates from 109 national and regional parties including 221 women and one transgender are in the fray.

Their fate will be decided by a total of 3.17 crore voters.

A total of 103 legislators are re-contesting this time, most of them from the ruling Bharat Rasthra Samithi (BRS).

Voters are exercising their franchise at 35,655



polling stations set up across the state.

State DGP Anjani Kuamr cast his vote along with his family members in GHMC Sports Complex Booth number 105, Ambarpet.

State's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vikas Raj says, "Since 7 am we have started seeing long queues at very interior places also...Polling is going on briskly. At every place, it is very peaceful and I request all the voters to vote".

BRS MLC K Kavitha shows her inked finger after casting her vote at a polling booth in Banjara Hills. She appeals to urban voters to exercise their franchise in elections