Telangana all set for first phase gram panchayat elections on December 11

Over 56 lakh voters will participate across 4,236 panchayats, where more than 80,000 candidates are contesting. Counting begins at 2 pm the same day

Hyderabad: With campaigning concluding on Tuesday, the stage is set for the first phase of gram panchayat elections to be held on Thursday. Polling will take place in 4,236 gram panchayats, with voters casting ballots at 37,562 polling stations.

Close relatives, including siblings from different families, are also contesting in several places for the posts of Sarpanch and ward member.

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A total of 56,19,430 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise, including 27,41,070 male and 28,78,159 female voters. Following scrutiny and withdrawals, 8,095 nominations for sarpanch posts and 9,626 nominations for ward member posts were withdrawn for various reasons.

Among the 4,236 gram panchayats, sarpanches were elected unanimously in 395 villages, and no nominations were filed in five villages. Elections are being held in 3,836 panchayats, with 13,127 candidates in the fray.

Similarly, for 37,440 ward posts, 9,331 members were elected unanimously. Elections will now be held in 27,960 wards, with 67,893 candidates contesting.

The State Election Commission and district administrations have made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth polling. Around 70,000 polling staff have been deployed, and voting will be held from 7 am to 1 pm.

Counting of votes will commence at 2 pm the same day, and results will be announced thereafter.