Hyderabad: In the first major poll after the local body elections last year, political parties are all set to take each other on in the by-poll for Nizamabad Local Bodies MLC constituency. The polling is scheduled for October 9 from 9 am to 5 pm, while results will be declared on October 12.
The poll campaign which officially ended on Wednesday evening was devoid of physical interaction due to Covid-19 pandemic. TRS candidate and former MP K Kavitha enjoys a clear advantage over her opponents, with the ruling party accounting for more than 60 per cent of voters comprising elected representatives from both urban and rural local bodies in erstwhile Nizamabad district. Besides Kavitha, V Subash Reddy from Congress and P Laxminarayana from BJP are also in the poll fray.
Of the total 824 voters from various local bodies in erstwhile Nizamabad district, about 505 voters are from the ruling TRS. Among the remaining elected representatives from local bodies, 140 are from the Congress, 84 from the BJP, 28 from the AIMIM and another 66 are independents. The TRS’ strength increased to about 80 per cent votes after several elected representatives from the Opposition parties and independents joined the party. The party also enjoys the support of 28 voters from AIMIM.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is holding the bye-election to fill the vacancy caused by the disqualification of sitting member R Bhoopathi Reddy. Though the polling was supposed to be held on April 7, the ECI earlier postponed it in view of the rising number of coronavirus cases and nation-wide lockdown. The term of the candidate elected in these bypoll will end in March 2022.
The ECI has made elaborate arrangements for polling in strict adherence to the Covid-19 guidelines. It has mandated that every person inside the polling station must wear a face mask and all entry areas of halls, rooms and premises should be sanitised. The election staff will conduct thermal screening, and sanitisers will be made available at all the locations, besides maintaining physical distancing.
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