At 71.34%, Telangana’s final voter turnout 2% less than in 2018

Hyderabad district and its 15 constituencies recorded the lowest figures and averaged 47.88 per cent in exercising their electoral rights. The Yakuthpura segment in the old city of Hyderabad recorded the lowest turnout with just 39.64 per cent.

The highest polling was recorded at Munugode with 91.89 per cent, followed by Palair (90.89 per cent) and Alair (90.77 per cent). Thirty-seven of the total 119 constituencies saw a poll percentage of less than 75, and among them, 11 constituencies registered less than 50. All 11 are in Greater Hyderabad.

Of the total 3,26,02,793 voters, as many as 1,15,84,728 males, 1,16,73,722 females and 807 persons of third gender cast their votes.

CEO Vikas Raj said scrutiny and tabulation of final votes were delayed as polling in most constituencies went on till 9 and 9.30 pm Thursday. Apart from a few minor glitches that required the replacement of EVM units, the election process was peaceful, he said on Friday.

A three-tier security with 40 companies of central armed paramilitary forces is guarding the strong rooms and the inner periphery of counting centres, with state police forming the outer two layers. For the counting of votes, 49 counting centres are being arranged.

On Sunday, Raj said the counting of votes will start at 8 am with the counting of over 2 lakh postal votes, which also includes votes polled by senior citizens and persons with disabilities who chose to vote from their homes. The counting of votes from EVM units will commence at 8.30 am, and first leads can be expected by 10.30 am, he said.

The CEO said reasons for a poor turnout will be analysed. “We undertook several initiatives to boost the polling percentage, including engaging with resident welfare associations and with organisations such as HYSEA,” he said, noting that there were seven polling stations in the state that had less than 50 voters.

The CEO also ruled out a re-poll at certain constituencies where complaints of rigging and malpractice were raised by Opposition parties. Congress had complained Friday that votes were rigged by AIMIM in the old city’s Chandrayangutta, Charminar, and Bahadurpura constituencies. The Bahujan Samaj Party lodged a similar complaint against Bharat Rashtra Samithi in the Sirpur constituency.