Election campaigning, which was on in full swing over the past few days throughout Telangana for the December 7 Assembly elections, came to an end today at 5 pm.
Election campaigning, which was on in full swing over the past few days throughout Telangana for the December 7 Assembly elections, came to an end today at 5 pm.
The Election Commission has imposed a blanket ban on all campaigning activity by the political parties, leaders, activists and media (including print and electronic media) from 5 pm today. It has also banned hoardings, public display of films for or against political parties, door-to-door campaigns, posters, and meetings to induce or lure people to vote for a specific party, and warned the parties of serious action if they were found violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
With this, the main political parties including the TRS, the Congress, the TDP, the TJS, the CPI, the CPI (M), the MIM and others wound up their campaigns.
Caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao ended his campaign in his own constituency (Gajwel) at 4:30 pm today. On the final day of campaigning today, KCR addressed public meetings in five constituencies, while KTR conducted road shows in the Khammam district and Harish Rao addressed a few meetings in scattered places.
Praja Kutami leaders Rahul Gandhi, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu, Kodandaram, Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, Ch Venkat Reddy, balladeer Gaddar and others addressed a press conference in Hyderabad and wound up their campaigning by 4.58 pm.
Congress senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad conducted a road show in Gajwel, the constituency of KCR. Accompanied by actress Nagma, he also addressed meetings in a few constituencies in Siddipet district. Congress star campaigners veteran actress Vijayashanti, Khushboo and former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin also participated in the campaign on Tuesday.
Campaigning for the BJP, central minister Smriti Irani, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in the campaign on Tuesday, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted four rallies on Wednesday.
The arrest of Telangana Congress working president A Revanth Reddy ahead of Chief Minister KCR's election rally in the Kodangal Assembly constituency cast its shadow over the party's campaign. Congress leaders condemned Reddy's midnight arrest, and used it to intensify their attack on what they called the autocratic rule of KCR.