Hectic calculations are being made on how the women voters are going to influence the AP poll outcome. As per the projections, it is true women have shown more enthusiasm compared to previous election. In 2014, only 33,448 more women voted when compared with men. But in 2019, over 2.35 lakh more women voted when compared with men. It means there is a difference of nearly 2.01 lakh women voters between the two elections.

Analysts say that this is not a small number and 500 to 2000 excess women voters are expected to impact the result in each of the 175 assembly segments. It is felt that not all women are swayed by the Pasupu Kumkuma and other cash benefits under the government’s welfare programmes. But it is undoubted that majority of these women beneficiaries have voted in favour of the TDP government.

There is also one view that most of these poor women beneficiaries are under pressure from local groups and their own families. This is the reason why they are not able to openly speak favourably of TDP. Moreover, women do not usually favour parties facing allegations of criminal charges. The Viveka murder has also shocked them. As is being said, there is a silent vote among these women. This is evident from how considerably larger number of women voted in this election.

Right from the start of polling, large numbers of voters formed queues at the polling stations. The polling started at 7 am. Voters started arriving half an hour before itself. Large numbers of women were seen coming by 7.30 am. Nearly 100 to two hundred voters are seen waiting in queues by 8 am. This early high voter turnout indicates the likelihood of a higher polling percentage.

There is enthusiastic turnout from the aged persons and women. This is being seen as an indication of pro-welfare mood prevailing strongly in the state. Analysts say there’s also a favourable sentiment running deep among the voters. The AP people are clearly inclined to vote against the parties that have done injustice to the state. The people’s consciousness is one of disappointment ever since the 2014 state separation. It’s still running deep. This is the second election for residual Andhra Pradesh. Once again, the sentiment is stronger just like in 2014.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, his wife Bhuvaneswari, Minister Lokesh and his wife Brahmani cast their votes at the Undavalli polling station. Vijayawada MP candidate Kesineni Nani along with family members cast votes at Gunadala.

At a time when Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is working on Target-16 in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, opposition parties Congress and BJP are keen on taking advantage in constituencies, where TRS fielded inexperienced candidates. As part of this strategy, BJP and Congress are leaving no stone unturned to bag five Lok Sabha seats in Telangana.

TRS’ candidates in five Lok Sabha constituencies – Secunderabad, Mahbubnagar, Malkajgiri, Chevella and Nalgonda are either newcomers or lack political experience. BJP and Congress are working hard on these five MP seats.

TRS has denied ticket to sitting MP Jithender Reddy and fielded a pharma industrialist M Srinivas Reddy in Mahbubnagar. Former Congress minister and senior leader in the district DK Aruna has joined BJP and contesting here as Lok Sabha candidate. Jithender Reddy has also joined BJP. This has created a tough competition for TRS.

Talasani Sai Kiran Yadav, son of TRS minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, is a newcomer and contesting on TRS ticket in Secunderabad. BJP has denied ticket to sitting MP Bandaru Dattatreya and is fielding Kishan Reddy, who lost in Assembly elections from Amberpet. Anjan Kumar Yadav of Congress is also in the fray.

M Rajashekhar Reddy, the son-in-law of C Malla Reddy, former Malkajgiri MP and TRS minister, is entering politics by contesting on TRS ticket in Malkajgiri. Congress working president A Revanth Reddy and BJP MLC Ramachandra Rao are contesting for Malkajgiri MP seat.

TRS candidate G Ranjit Reddy, a poultry industrialist, is new to politics and contesting in Chevella Lok Sabha seat against Konda Vishweshwar Reddy of Congress and B Janardhan Reddy of BJP. Vishweshwar Reddy won from Chevella on TRS ticket in 2014 elections and joined Congress before Assembly elections.

TRS has fielded a new candidate in Nalgona Lok Sabha constituency, while TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy and BJP’s G Jithender Kumar are contesting for this MP seat.