Union Minister G Kishan Reddy casts his vote in Telangana’s Barkatpura

Secunderabad (Telangana) [India], May 13 (ANI): Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Secunderabad Parliamentary constituency, G Kishan Reddy cast his vote at polling booth number 214 at Deeksha Model School of Telangana’s Barkatpura.

Notably, he faces contests from Congress’ Danam Nagender and BRS’ Theegulla Padma Rao.

“I reached here at 6:50 am. There was some problem with EVM which was related to some small technical error. Such small incidents keep happening, it is part of democracy. Came here to cast a vote with my family and friends,” Kishan Reddy said.

Urging the voters to exercise their franchise, he said, “Polling day is declared a holiday so that you all can cast your vote. Do not consider it a regular holiday. Please go out and vote and then enjoy your day.”

“PM Narendra Modi reiterates that this is a festival of democracy… Dr APJ Abdul Kalam used to say that voting is a fundamental right and it is a responsibility. I urge everyone, whenever your state or region goes to polls, please go out and vote for the country’s development, security, and welfare,” he further said.

Voting for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in 96 Parliamentary Constituencies across nine states and one Union Territory got underway on Monday at 7:00 am.

Polling for all 175 seats of the State Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh and 28 seats of the State Legislative Assembly of Odisha also started simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls.

Of the 96 Lok Sabha seats, 25 are from Andhra Pradesh, 17 from Telangana, 13 from Uttar Pradesh, 11 from Maharashtra, eight each from Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, five from Bihar, four each from Jharkhand and Odisha, and one from Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the poll body, a total of 4,264 nominations were filed for 96 parliamentary constituencies across.

Of the 96 Lok Sabha seats, 25 are from Andhra Pradesh, 17 from Telangana, 13 from Uttar Pradesh, 11 from Maharashtra, eight each from Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, five from Bihar, four each from Jharkhand and Odisha and one from Jammu and Kashmir.

The fourth phase is witnessing key contests in various constituencies. Leaders such as AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, TMC leader Mahua Moitra, BJP leader Giriraj Singh, JDU’s Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), TMC leaders Shatrughan Sinha and Yusuf Pathan.BJP leaders Arjun Munda and Madhavi Latha, and Andhra Pradesh Congress Chief YS Sharmila are also looking for electoral success.

So far, till phase 3 of the Lok Sabha polls, polling has concluded smoothly and peacefully in 283 Lok Sabha seats.