Hyderabad: Amidst tight security, polling for the three constituencies of Telangana Legislative Council in the state, begun here on Thursday.
The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for smooth conduct of Member of Legislative Council elections.
The polling will conclude at 4 pm and the counting of votes will be taken up on March 3.
Elections are being held for three MLC seats – Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Karimnagar Graduates’ and Teachers’ constituencies and Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Teachers’ constituency, spread over 15 districts in Telangana.
While 56 candidates are in fray for the lone Graduates’ constituency, 15 and 19 candidates are contesting the Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Karimnagar and Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Teachers’ constituencies respectively.
While the ruling Congress party is directly contesting the’ graduate constituency, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded candidates in all three seats while the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has opted out of the contest.
Currently, T Jeevan Reddy (Congress) holds the Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Karimnagar Graduates’ seat, while K Raghottham Reddy and A Narsi Reddy serve from the respective Teachers’ constituencies. Their terms will end on March 29.
Police have issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC across all constituencies until polling concludes, restricting unlawful assembly.
Orders have also been issued for the closure of liquor shops in the combined Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda districts as part of election regulations.