A total of 902 nominations were submitted on the initial day of nominations for the upcoming municipal elections in Telangana. Among these, 890 candidates, including 55 independents, completed the filing process. The elections, scheduled for February 11, will cover seven municipal corporations and 116 municipalities.
The electoral process commenced with the issuance of election notices by returning officers. Notably, the ruling Congress saw 382 of its candidates file nominations on the opening day. Additionally, the main opposition party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), submitted 258 nominations, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates accounted for 169 nominations.
According to the State Election Commission (SEC), a total of 2,996 wards across 123 urban local bodies are set to participate in the upcoming polls. The urban local bodies’ ward-wise electoral rolls were made public on the same day. The municipal elections will witness 52.43 lakh eligible voters, comprising 25.62 lakh men, 26.80 lakh women, and 640 others.
State Election Commissioner I. Ranu Kumudini unveiled the municipal elections schedule on Tuesday. The deadline for nomination filing is January 30, with scrutiny scheduled for January 31. The list of valid nominations will be published on January 31, while appeals against rejections can be lodged by February 1, to be resolved by February 2. Withdrawal of candidatures can be done until February 3, with the final list of candidates set to be published on the same day.
Polling is slated for February 11, with a provision for re-polling on February 12 if necessary. Vote counting will take place on February 13. The SEC will establish 8,203 polling stations and provide 16,031 ballot boxes for the electoral process. Additionally, 137 strong rooms and 136 counting centers will be set up by the state poll body.
Instructions have been issued by the SEC to candidates regarding the nomination process. Only three individuals, including the candidate and/or proposer, are allowed in the Returning Officer’s office. Furthermore, each candidate is limited to two vehicles within a 100-meter radius of the Returning Officer’s office, with help desks available at all relevant locations.
