All Set for Municipal Polls Today
Hyderabad: More than 52.17 lakh voters are expected to vote in 2,981 wards across seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities in Telangana on Wednesday. Polling for Ward 6 of Maktal Municipality in Narayanpet district was postponed following the suicide of BJP candidate Erukala Mahadevappa.
While the counting of votes is planned for February 13, the indirect election of Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Mayors and Deputy Mayors will be held on February 16. Seven municipal corporations of Karimnagar, Ramagundam, Nizamabad, Mahbubnagar, Mancherial, Kothagudem and Nalgonda will go to polls.
The elections are expected to witness a three-way contest between the Congress and the opposition BRS and BJP. The polls gained importance as the fight was fought over party symbols for the first time after the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will cast his vote in Kodangal around 11 am.
The Congress is trying to consolidate its position after back-to-back victories in the 2023 Assembly elections, 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Assembly by-polls to Secunderabad Cantonment and Jubilee Hills seats and the recent Gram Panchayat elections.
While the BJP aims to expand its presence in urban areas, the BRS is trying to regain its ground after setbacks in the Assembly, Lok Sabha and bypoll contests.
The government declared a paid holiday on Wednesday for employees who went to the polls in factories, stores, workplaces and industrial units in the municipality and municipal corporation areas, so that they can use their franchises.
Security has been tightened at urban local bodies and election officials said all arrangements were in place to ensure smooth voting.
SEC reported that voters can download their voter ballots and go to polling stations using the Te-poll mobile application on android devices with the help of their EPIC numbers. It has established a toll-free call center at 9240021456.
Of the 10,719 candidates contesting for ward membership in municipalities, 2,538 are from Congress, 2,478 from BRS, 2,252 from BJP and 220 from AIMIM. Among the 2,225 candidates contesting in municipal corporations, there are 410 candidates from Congress, 401 from BRS, 382 from BJP and 62 from AIMIM. Besides these major parties, candidates from AAP, BSP, CPM, AIFB, CPI, IUML, JSP and Independents are also going to the polls.
Elections: February 11
Results: February 13
Indirect election of mayors/chairmen: 16 February
Municipalities
Municipalities: 116
Wards: 2,582
Unbeatable pick: 12
Survey postponed: 1
Number of neighborhoods going to elections: 2,569
Number of polling places: 6,017
Candidates participating in the competition: 10,719
municipal companies
Municipal companies: 7
Wards: 414
Unbeatable pick: 2
Number of wards up for election: 412
Polling places: 2,174
Candidates participating in the competition: 2,225
