Ex-Officio Members to Play Key Role in Urban Civic Chief Posts
The elections for Mayors, Deputy Mayors, municipal chairpersons and vice-chairpersons are scheduled for February 16
Hyderabad: Ex-officio members will play a key role in the indirect elections to top posts in municipal corporations and municipalities across Telangana, with the State Election Commission (SEC) warning of strict enforcement of party whips to prevent cross-voting. The elections for Mayors, Deputy Mayors, municipal chairpersons and vice-chairpersons are scheduled for February 16.
As many as 181 ex-officio members — comprising 119 MLAs, 38 MLCs, 17 Lok Sabha MPs and seven Rajya Sabha MPs — will be eligible to vote, in addition to elected corporators and councillors. Their votes are expected to have a decisive impact, particularly in closely contested urban local bodies.
The SEC has directed district collectors to compile and submit detailed information on ex-officio members as part of the election process. Details of members already registered must be furnished by February 4, while those yet to register should be given an opportunity between February 11 and 14. Registration is mandatory under the Telangana Municipal Act, 2019, to exercise voting rights in the indirect elections.
Under the guidelines, MLAs and Lok Sabha MPs can register as ex-officio members in any municipal corporation or municipality within their respective Assembly or Parliamentary constituencies. Rajya Sabha members and MLCs may register in any local body in the state. The registration requires a written application to the concerned municipal commissioner.
Detailed instructions have been issued to district collectors on the implementation of whip procedures. Only political parties recognised by the SEC are authorised to issue whips.
The state party president or general secretary may delegate the authority to appoint a whip for a specific corporation or municipality, usually to a district-level leader. Relevant documents must reach the election officer by 11 am on the day preceding the election.
Any violation of the whip, including voting against instructions or abstaining, will automatically attract disqualification from membership of the local body, though the vote cast will remain valid and be counted.
