With 1,122 contesting candidates in Hyderabad, the stage is set for 75 lakh people to face the civic polls today in Hyderabad.
As many as 74,44,260 voters will exercise their franchise using ballot papers to elect their representatives within the 150-ward Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), consistent with official data.
The Hyderabad civic polls which witnessed a high decibel campaign resembling an Assembly or parliamentary election with top leaders from different parties participating within the electioneering.
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The polling begins at 7 AM and to 6 PM.
The Telangana State committee (SEC) has made elaborate arrangements for the balloting process by deploying 48,000 (including reserve) polling personnel and 52,500 strong police.
The Commission had decided to conduct the election with ballot papers after obtaining the views of major political parties, Health department in sight of COVID-19 and taking into consideration various relevant issues, it said earlier.
The SEC has conducted a campaign, featuring some film personalities, to motivate the electorate to vote.
Observing that each one arrangements, including those in sight of the COVID-19 pandemic,have been made for smooth polling, State Election Commissioner C Parathasarathi has appealed to the voters to exercise their franchise.
The run-up to the polling witnessed a high decibel and sometimes acrimonious campaign.
Buoyed by its victory within the recent bypoll to Dubbak Assembly constituency, the BJP conducted a strong campaign to win the GHMC polls.
It has drafted its General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav, who has been itsincharge for Bihar, to supervise the preparation for the poll in Hyderabad.
Top leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president J P Nadda, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar, Smriti Irani and MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy, who is Lok Sabha member from Secunderabad, party MP and BJYM national president Tejaswi Surya participated within the campaign.
The BJP highlighted the TRS’ “alliance” with the AIMIM and sought votes to supply clean and transparent governance within the city.
The TRS, however, denied any alliance with the AIMIM.
The TRS’ campaign was led by its Working President and state Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao, while party supremo and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao addressed a public meeting.
The state’s ruling party has deployed several state ministers and legislators for canvassing within the city.