Telangana to go for municipal elections on February 11, counting on February 13

Elections to seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities will be held on February 11, with counting on February 13. State Election Commission announced a detailed schedule, reservation break-up, security measures and enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct across Telangana

Hyderabad: Elections for seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities in the State will be held on February 11. Counting of votes will be taken up on February 13, with the results to be declared soon after completion of counting the same day.

The elections will be conducted using ballot papers. The election of municipal chairpersons and vice chairpersons in municipalities and that of mayors and deputy mayors in municipal corporations will be held on February 16, according to the election schedule released here on Tuesday by the State Election Commission (SEC).

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Candidates can file nominations from January 28 while the last date for filing nominations is January 30. After scrutiny, valid nominations will be published on January 31, State Election Commissioner I Rani Kumudini said at a press conference.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is February 3 and the final list of contesting candidates will be published the same day. A total of 52.43 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise during the elections. Of these, 25.62 lakh are male voters and 26.80 lakh are female voters.

Elections for three other corporations, including the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), and five municipalities, will be held later as the council term is in vogue.

There are 2,996 wards and 8,203 polling stations. As many as16,031ballot boxes are being arranged for the elections. Similarly, 137 strong rooms and 136 counting centres are being established, the Election Commissioner said.

Of the 2,996 wards, 864 have been reserved for women (unreserved) and 647 have been declared as unreserved wards in the general category. The government has reserved 463 seats for Backward Classes (General) and 391 for Backward Classes (women). Similarly, 254 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Castes (General) and 190 for the Scheduled Castes (women). For Scheduled Tribes (General), 147 wards have been reserved. Another 40 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (women).

Meanwhile, Law and Order Additional DG Mahesh Bhagwat said with the election code of conduct coming into effect in the State, carrying more than Rs 50,000 in cash was not permitted. If the amount exceeds Rs 50,000, a receipt must be shown, he said. As many as 1,926 problematic areas and over 300 highly problematic areas have been identified. Nirmal, Bhainsa, Bodhan, Nizamabad, and some other areas have been identified as communally sensitive areas, he said.

Special instructions have been given to the officials to ensure that devotees heading to Medaram were not inconvenienced due to police checks, he added.

Poll schedule out

Elections on February 11 and counting of votes on February 13
Elections to 2,996 wards in 116 municipalities and seven corporations
Total voters: 52.43 lakh; male – 25.62 lakh and female – 26.80 lakh
Polling stations: 8,203
Ballot boxes: 16,031
Strong rooms: 137
Counting centres: 136