The 2023 Telangana Legislative Assembly election was held on 30 November 2023 to elect all 119 members of Telangana Legislative Assembly for its third term. The votes were counted and the results were declared on 3 December 2023.
The Indian National Congress (INC) along with its ally Communist Party of India (CPI) won a majority with 65 seats against the incumbent Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS)'s 39 seats. With a victory for the first time after the formation of Telangana, it strengthened the INC's position in southern India following its recent success in Karnataka. The BRS and the outgoing chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao suffered a major loss in the elections by losing in one of his contended seats after being in power for two terms.
Background
The tenure of Telangana Legislative Assembly was scheduled to end on 16 January 2024. The previous assembly elections were held in December 2018 and the incumbent Telangana Rashtra Samithi, which was later renamed as Bharat Rashtra Samithi, formed the state government, with K. Chandrashekar Rao becoming the Chief Minister for the second time.
Schedule
The election schedule was announced by the Election Commission of India on 9 October 2023.
Election statistics
There are 15,871,493 male voters and 15,843,339 female voters while the number of transgender voters stood at 2,557. 2,202,168 voters were deleted across the state.
A total of 2,290 candidates were in the fray, while 608 withdrew their nominations. The highest number of candidates in the electoral contest is from the L. B. Nagar constituency, with 48 candidates, and the least from Banswada and Narayanpet constituencies, each with 7 candidates.
The Election Commission of India seized a total of ₹659.2 crore worth of cash and goods across the state, which were alleged to be used by contesting candidates to influence voters in the elections and conduct general electoral malpractice, in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Parties and alliances
The Indian National Congress fought the elections in alliance with the Communist Party of India, whereas the Bharatiya Janata Party fought alongside the Janasena Party. The Telangana outfit of the Telugu Desam Party did not contest.
Issues
Kaleshwaram project
INC leader Rahul Gandhi called the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, the flagship scheme of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi government in Telangana, the "ATM of KCR's family". He made those remarks after visiting the Medigadda Barrage, which had come under scrutiny of the National Dam Safety Authority after six piers in its seventh block showed signs of damage and leakage.
Dharani portal
The Dharani Portal, an Integrated land records system launched by the incumbent BRS government as part of its land reform scheme, to aid farmers in the distribution of the Rythu Bandhu scheme, has been contested by opposition parties, who alleged that it was created with the purpose of grabbing the land of poor farmers. The BJP chief, J. P. Nadda, vowed that the portal would be abolished if the BJP came to power, while the INC promised that they would replace the existing portal with an improved version called 'Bhu Bharati'.
Incidents
Assassination attempt
On 30 October 2023, an unidentified man stabbed Kotha Prabhakar Reddy, Member of Parliament for Medak, in the stomach while posing as if to shake hands with him during a campaign in Siddipet district. He was apprehended by others in the crowd and put into police custody.
Other
On 16 November 2023, a person, carrying two bullets, was arrested at a public meeting in Narsapur. Incumbent Chief Minister of Telangana, K. Chandrashekar Rao was in attendance.
Campaigns
Bharat Rashtra Samithi
Bharat Rashtra Samithi president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao launched the party campaign at an election meeting in Husnabad on 15 October 2023, where he announced the party manifesto.
Manifesto
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao released his party's manifesto on 15 October 2023.
Social security pension: Pensions currently stands at ₹2,016, will be increased to ₹3,016 in the first year after the BRS returns to power, and then be raised incrementally up to ₹5,000 in the next four years.
Rythu Bandhu scheme: Rythu Bandhu scheme in which farmers get ₹10,000 per annum per acre, the payments will be enhanced gradually to ₹16,000 per annum over the next five years.
Gas cylinder: After returning to power BRS will give each gas cylinder at ₹400 to 'eligible beneficiaries' and the remaining cost will be borne by the state government.
Arogya Sri health scheme: ₹1,500,000 health insurance cover to all eligible beneficiaries under the 'Arogya Sri' health scheme, increasing it from the present ₹500,000.
Housing: House sites would be provided to the poor who have no house in the state. The current housing policy will continue.
Rice distribution: Distribute of fine rice through Fair Price shops soon after the party comes to power.
Indian National Congress
Former President and General Secretary of the Congress Party, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi launched the Congress campaign at Mulugu on 18 October 2023. The bus yatra lasted three days and covered eight constituencies.
Subsequently, on 30 October 2023 and 3 November 2023, Telangana Jana Samithi and YSR Telangana Party respectively announced that they would not contest state elections and instead support the Congress.
Manifesto
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi unveiled the party's six guarantees at a rally in Tukkuguda on 17 September 2023.
Agriculture: Farmers and agricultural labourers will receive ₹15,000 and ₹12,000 in financial assistance each year. Bonus of ₹500 per quintal for paddy above minimum support price.
Electricity: 200 free electrical units to all households under the Gruha Jyothi scheme.
Housing: Under the Indiramma Idlu scheme, a piece of land and ₹500,000 for the construction of a house will be provided to the homeless poor. 250 sq. yards plot for families of martyrs of the Telangana movement.
Seniors: ₹4,000 monthly pension for the elderly, widows and others as well as and ₹1,000,000 worth Rajiv Arogyasri insurance cover for poor under the Cheyutha scheme.
Women: Under the Mahalakshmi scheme, women shall receive ₹2,500 every month in financial assistance, gas cylinders for ₹500, and free travel in RTC buses.
Old pension scheme:
Reimplementation of the Old Pension Scheme, which it did in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka.
Youth: Vidya Bharosa Card worth ₹500,000 to students for pursuing higher education and establishment of Telangana International School in every mandal (block).
Bharatiya Janata Party
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Shah launched the BJP's campaign at a public meeting in Adilabad on 10 October 2023.
Manifesto
Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the BJP Telangana's manifesto for Telangana Assembly elections in the name of "Sakala Janula Saubhagya Telangana" on 18 November 2023 in Hyderabad.
Gas cylinder: The beneficiaries of the Ujjwala Yojana will be given four gas cylinders per year for free.
Uniform Civil Code (UCC): Once the Bharatiya Janata Party forms government in Telangana, it will, within 6 months, bring the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the State.
Hyderabad Liberation Day: Hyderabad Liberation Day (September 17) and the Razakar Vibhishika Smriti Divas (August 27) will "be celebrated officially by the Government".
Zero tolerance against corruption: Investigate all the cases of corruption through a system headed by the retired Supreme Court judge. It will appoint committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to go into alleged corruption by BRS government.
Education & employment: Those pursuing degree or professional courses will be given free laptops for college girl students, 10 lakh jobs for women, party will ensure that employment is provided to 2.5 youth in the next five years in the state.
Reservation: Abolish unconstitutional religion-based reservations
Aada Bidda Bharosa: Fixed deposit scheme for a girl child at her birth, under which ₹200,000 can be redeemed when she turns 21.
Surveys and polls
Exit polls
Exit polls were released on 30 November 2023.
Results
The Congress with its ally, the CPI got a clear majority by winning 65 seats. It defeated the incumbent BRS which secured 39 seats. BJP won eight and AIMIM retained its seven seats in the Greater Hyderabad region. The Janasena Party (JSP), which contested in eight seats as a partner of Bharatiya Janata Party, lost all of them. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) lost in all the contested seats. The vote share of AIMIM is comparatively less due to less voter turnout in their seats.
Telangana PCC president Revanth Reddy was widely credited with the success of his party in the polls. Congress state in-charge Masoor Khan stated that Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra worked in favour in the Congress in Telangana. The Congress' landslide victory in neighbouring Karnataka a few months earlier was also emphasised as a major boost for the Congress in the state. Congress party poll strategist Sunil Kanugolu was also highlighted in the media for his efforts.
According to an analysis in The Hindu, strong anti-incumbency generated due to the failure to fill government jobs, the arrogant attitude of the Chief Minister, discrepancies in the cash transfer and welfare schemes, general corruption, voter fatigue, land grabbing charges faced by 30-40 BRS MLAs, and Chandrasekhar Rao's “bold” and early decision of fielding most of the BRS MLAs, including those with a dubious track record helped the Congress in winning the election.
Results by region
Out of the total of 25 seats in the Greater Hyderabad region, BRS won 16, followed by AIMIM with 7. INC and BJP secured one seat each. The INC's victory was on account of its performance in north and south Telangana.
Out of the total of 51 seats in the North Telangana region, congress won 33, followed by BRS with 10. BJP secured 7 seats in this region. The INC's victory was on account of its performance in north and south Telangana. AIMIM only contested in Greater Hyderabad.
Out of the total of 43 seats in the South Telangana region, congress won 30, followed by BRS with 13. BJP did not win any seat in this region. The INC's victory was on account of its performance in north and south Telangana. AIMIM only contested in Greater Hyderabad.
Aftermath
All India Congress Committee (AICC) named Revanth Reddy as the leader of Congress Party in Telangana, following the elected MLAs' resolution authorizing the AICC to nominate the leader, paving way for him to become the Chief Minister of Telangana.
On 7 December 2023, he took oath as the Chief Minister of Telangana, thus becoming the second person to hold the post.