Ballot papers, not EVM machines, to be used in GHMC polls

Tight security arrangements have been made for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections, with the polling to happen on ballot papers and not on EVM machines. Over 40,000 police personnel have been deployed in Hyderabad. Police commissioner Anjani Kumar said that police pickets will be set up at 293 hypersensitive polling stations.

The police have bound over 3,066 history-sheeters and recovered 4,187 licensed weapons ahead of the polls. The police have also seized Rs 1.45 crore cash during checks along with Rs 10 lakh worth of liquor and narcotics. The police said they are keenly watching social media to prevent the spread of rumours.

Polling for the 150-member GHMC would be held from 7 am to 6 pm on 1December. The polling time has been extended by an hour in view of the pandemic situation. Covid patients are allowed to vote with PPE kits. There are 74 lakh voters and 1,122 candidates are in fray for 150 seats.Among major political parties, Telangana Rashtra Samithi is contesting in all the 150 divisions, Bharatiya Janata Party in 149, Congress in 146, Telugu Desam Party in 106 and AIMIM in 51 divisions. There are 9,101 polling stations.

In the last elections in December 2016, the first after the formation of Telangana, the TRS had won 99 out of 150 seats and its alliance partner AIMIM had bagged 44 seats.

The TRS, which has made a strong pitch for development, has made attractive promises to the people, including free water supply to households consuming less than 20,000 litres per month, free power supply to salons, laundries and dhobi ghats, waiver from motor vehicle tax for vehicles purchased during the coronavirus pandemic. The BJP, for the first time, roped in all its top leaders, including Union Home minister Amit Shah, national president J.P. Nadda, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Union ministers Prakash Javadekar and Smriti Irani and former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to campaign in the local polls. The AIMIM campaign was solely done by party chief Asaduddin Owaisi.