Telangana: 119 assembly seat, 2290 candidates, additional ballot units

In Telangana, the large number of candidates from small and other parties, besides Independents is causing worry among the candidates of National and Regional Parties. A total number of 2290 candidates are in the fray in 119 Assembly constituencies of the State, which is going for polls on the 30th of this month. In addition to the major BRS, BJP, Congress and BSP, a total of 105 parties are aspiring to enter the Assembly in the State this time. Only the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) is contesting all 119 seats while Congress has shared one seat with CPI as part of the pre-poll seat adjustment. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is officially contesting from 111 seats, as its ally Jana Sena Party is in the fray in 8 constituencies. However, one more BJP candidate has remained in the fray after withdrawals.
Though the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) wanted to field candidates in all seats, 106 of its candidates could remain in the fray due to various reasons while CPI-M candidates are contesting 19 seats. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) is contesting from nine constituencies. Interestingly, parties that are posing a challenge to the major parties include the Dharma Samaj Party in 101 constituencies, Bharata Chaitanya Yuvajana Party in 45 seats, Alliance of Democratic Reforms Party in 42, Indian Praja Bandhu and Yuga Tulasi in 30 seats each, while Bahujan Mukti Party have fielded from 33 seats.  Marxist Communist Party of India United is in contest in 26 seats while Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT) has fielded its candidates in seven places. Besides, 993 Independent candidates are in the fray.
Meanwhile,over 40 out of the total 119 constituencies in Telangana require additional Ballot Units (BUs) for polling and the election authorities are making arrangements for the same. One electronic Voting machine can handle 16 candidates including the NOTA option. The office of the Chief Electoral Officer informed that additional BUs have already been sent to over 40 constituencies and advised to complete the second level randomisation by the 22nd of this month. The authorities have conducted the 2nd randomisation of EVMs at 78 constituencies in the presence of observers and candidates and their representatives to allot BUs, Control Units (CUs), and VVPATs booth-wise. Meanwhile, over 22 thousand permissions have been given through the Suvidha portal at district and Constituency levels to Candidates and political parties. The authorities also received 5 thousand 183 complaints through c-Vigil which have been attended.