Telangana: Municipal Elections on Feb 11; Results on Feb 13
State Election Commission issues schedule for polls to municipalities and corporations.
Hyderabad: The Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday announced that municipal elections will be held on February 11, and counting of votes on February 13. Elections will be held through ballot papers, and on party symbols. Elections will not be held for the GHMC whose term ends on February 10.
The polls will cover seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities. Indirect elections for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor in municipal corporations and chairperson and vice-chairperson in municipalities will be conducted on February 16. Notification for the polls will be issued on Wednesday and filing of nominations will commence immediately.
State Election Commissioner I. Rani Kumudini released the election schedule at a press conference on Tuesday and stated that the model code of conduct had come into force with immediate effect in all areas going to polls and would remain in force till February 16.
The elections will cover 2,582 wards in 116 municipalities and 414 wards in the seven municipal corporations, totalling 2,996 wards across 32 districts.
Kumudini said that elaborate arrangements had been made to ensure free, fair and transparent elections, including web-casting facilities in all the 8,203 polling stations across the state. A total of 52.43 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise, including 26.80 lakh women voters, 25.62 lakh male voters and 640 voters in the ‘others’ category, reflecting a significant participation of women in the electorate.
As many as 16,031 ballot boxes are being readied, along with 137 strong rooms and 136 counting centres to facilitate smooth conduct of polling and counting.
After the declaration of results, the elected ward members of the urban local bodies will be administered the oath of office at 11 am on February 16. A special meeting for the election of Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons in municipalities and Mayors and Deputy Mayors in municipal corporations will be held thereafter at 12.30 pm.
Kumudini said the State Election Commission had reviewed the preparedness of the administration before announcing the schedule through a video conference with Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao, Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy and other senior officials. She asserted that all necessary measures were being taken to maintain law and order and ensure voter confidence during the election process.
Additional DGP (law and order) Mahesh Bhagwat, who also addressed the press conference, said that the police had identified 1,926 sensitive and 1,302 hyper-sensitive polling stations out of the total of 8,203. Additional forces would be deployed in these areas and flag marches would be conducted to instil confidence among voters.
He said that in communally sensitive regions such as Nirmal, Bhainsa, Nizamabad and Bodhan special security arrangements would be put in place. Bhagwat noted that elections under the Bharat Future City limits would be conducted in Rangareddy district, covering Chevella, Ibrahimpatnam, Moinabad and Shankarpally.
Bhagwat said the police would enforce the model code strictly and seize any cash exceeding `50,000 found without proof. He stated that rowdy-sheeters and history-sheeters would be bound over with immediate effect and directed that all licensed weapons must be surrendered at the respective police stations. He added that the police force would intensify checks to prevent the illegal transportation of cash, liquor and freebies.
Poll data
Municipalities and municipal corporations going for polls: 123
Municipal corporations: 7
Municipalities: 116
Voters: 52.43 lakh
Men: 25.62 lakh
Women: 26.80 lakh
Others: 640
Reservations
Total wards: 2,996
BC (General): 463
BC (Women): 391
SC (General): 254
SC (Women): 190
ST (General): 147
ST (Women): 40
Unreserved (General): 647
Unreserved (Women): 864
Infrastructure:
Polling Stations: 8,203
Ballot boxes: 16,031
Strong rooms: 137
Counting centres: 136
Municipal corporations heading for polls:
Karimnagar: 66
Ramagundam: 60
Nizamabad: 60
Mahbubnagar: 60
Mancherial: 60
Kothagudem: 60
Nalgonda: 60
Important dates
Election notice, nominations: Jan. 28
Last date: Jan. 30
Scrutiny: Jan. 31
Candidates list: Jan. 31
Appeals: Feb. 1
Disposal of appeals: Feb. 2
Withdrawal: Feb. 3
Final list: Feb. 3
Polling: Feb. 11
Re-polling, if any: Feb. 12
Counting: Feb. 13
Indirect election of mayors, deputy mayors, chairpersons, vice-chairpersons: Feb. 16
