A high-octane campaign for elections to urban local bodies in Telangana has concluded, with major contenders — the ruling Congress, opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and BJP — seeking to outwit each other in carrying out aggressive mass outreach programmes. The polling will be held across 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations in India’s youngest state on February 11. Counting of votes will be taken up on February 13.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and his cabinet colleagues campaigned extensively for Congress. The BJP deployed Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay, along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, for roadshows in North Telangana's areas bordering Maharashtra.
The opposition BRS saw aggressive efforts from former ministers and leaders, K T Rama Rao and T Harish Rao. AIMIM too is in the fray in some pockets of north Telangana.
Fresh from the credible performance from the rural local bodies, Revanth Reddy is keen on proving that his popularity with the masses is intact and that the performance of his government has wide public support.
Winding up the campaign, Revanth Reddy accused the NDA government at the Centre for not approving even a single project proposed by the state government.
“During a recent visit to the state, we expected BJP president Nitin Nabin would announce national project status to Palamuru Rangareddy district, but not a single word uttered. Maharashtra CM Fadnavis also campaigned in Adilabad without making any positive statement on their cooperation in completing the Pranahita-Chevella project, which provides 2 lakh acres of irrigation and drinking water to Adilabad district,” said Revanth Reddy.
In total, 25.62 lakh male voters and 26.80 lakh female voters are expected to exercise their franchise. The State Election Commissioner Rani Kumudini said the elections will be conducted using ballot papers.
Elections for corporation mayors, deputy mayors, municipal chairpersons and vice-chairpersons will be held on February 16. Polling will cover 2,996 wards, supported by 8,203 polling stations and 136 counting centers.
Elections for three other corporations, including the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), and five municipalities, will be held later.
There are 2,996 wards and 8,203 polling stations. As many as16,031 ballot boxes are being arranged for the elections. Similarly, 137 strong rooms and 136 counting centres are being established, the Election Commissioner said.
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).
Follow us
