Hyderabad: Baldiya battle on December 1

State Election Commission issues notification, poll code in effect in GHMC limits

Hyderabad: The battle lines have been drawn for the 150 wards of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) with the Telangana State Election Commission announcing the poll schedule on Tuesday. Polling will be held on December 1, followed by counting on December 4.

Briefing the media, State Election Commissioner C Partha Sarathi said filing of nominations would begin from 11 am on Wednesday (November 18), followed by scrutiny of nominations on November 21. The last date for withdrawing nominations was November 22 and the list of contesting candidates would be published on the same day after 3 pm.

In a departure from the last GHMC election, Partha Sarathi said this time around, polling would be conducted through paper ballots since most of the political parties insisted on this following several litigations against the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs). He also cited a Supreme Court order that ballot papers should be used for polling.

“Considering the prevailing situation arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic, besides the GHMC elections, only paper ballots would be used for polls to other urban local bodies (ULBs) in the State,” he said, adding that the decision was taken considering time constraints and after the consent of political parties.

Stating that the election code of conduct comes into force with immediate effect, the SEC, however, clarified that distribution of interim financial aid of Rs 10,000 to rain-affected families in the city by the GHMC was a calamity relief, and as such, was exempted from the model code of conduct. The distribution, however, should be done online and the amount would have to be transferred to beneficiaries’ accounts. “Physical distribution of the aid will not be permitted,” he said.

Partha Sarathi also clarified that the use of EVMs and VVPATs involved several processes before use in polling stations. Processes such as several layers of checks, and randomisation and commissioning of EVMs involved deployment of a large number of engineers by manufacturers, as also the presence of representatives of political parties and election staff. A large number of unskilled labour would also have to be deployed for cleaning, unpacking and packing of EVMs and VVPATs in a closed environment, he pointed out. “Considering all these factors, it was decided to use ballot papers for the GHMC elections,” he said.

The final electoral rolls have already been published and over 74 lakh voters will be exercising their franchise on polling day. Over 48,000 polling personnel will be deployed, apart from flying squads, micro-observers and static surveillance teams among others monitoring the proceedings.

Over 2,700 polling stations were identified as sensitive, hyper-sensitive and critical stations, and arrangements were being made accordingly, the SEC said. Election Commission Secretary M Ashok Kumar, Election Authority DS Lokesh Kumar and others were present.

In the outgoing council, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti enjoyed a whopping majority of 100 corporators (including one TDP corporator who joined the ruling party) while the MIM accounted for another 44 corporators. The BJP has only four corporators in the council while Congress has two.

The Election Commission has also set up a round-the-clock complaint-cum-call centre on 040-35117551 at its office in Masab Tank to receive complaints and suggestions with regard to the GHMC elections.

 

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