Hyderabad(Hyd), September 23 : The Telangana (TL) State Election Commission is gearing as many as carry out elections to the Greater Hyderabad(Hyd) Municipal Corporation (GHMC) as the term of the elected body ends early next yr..
As the polls are likely to be conducted within the shadow of COVID-19-19 epidemic, the poll body is scheduling special steps to make sure smooth carry out of the overall procedure.
After taking charge as State Election Commissioner some days back, C. Parthasarathi started discussions with the authorities to finalize the poll preparations.
With the epidemic posing numerous problems, the State Election Commission (SEC) is trying to make sure fool-proof arrangements, & going to be following the instructions released by this Election Commission for implementing the elections during this epidemic.
The SEC has sought the opinion of political parties on whether to utilize ballot papers (or) electronic voting machines (EVMs) maintaining in see the epidemic.
Commission Secretary M. Jayasimha Reddy wrote a letter to the Presidents & Secretaries of political parties lodged with the SEC, asking them to send their own suggestions to the Commission on (or) before Sep 30.
The state poll panel has already ruled to fix a voter strength of 800 per polling station to make sure social distancing rules. The amount of polling stations going to have to be rised.
As the term of the present elected body of the GHMC is expiring on Feb 10, 2024, the elections are likely to be conducted in Dec-Jan.
This going to be the 2nd election to the 150-member GHMC after the formation of Telangana (TL) state in 2014.
In the context of the poll preparations, GHMC authorities going to be trained to acquaint them with software applications within the application, developed by this Center for Great Governance (CGG) for preparation & publication of electoral rolls, randomisation of polling & counting personnel & election procedure and so on.
For expeditious, error-free & transparent election processes, the SEC is aiming to utilize maximum technology with the support of the CGG. This may contain utilize of face recognition software to update electoral rolls.
Discussing the truth that in each election the state capital lodged low voter turnout, the SEC going to be focusing on enhancing the poll percentage(%).
Within the 2016 GHMC polls, only 45.29 percent voters cast their own votes. The turnout dropped furthermore within the 2018 Assembly elections & the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Analysts say with the polls likely to be conducted within the shadow of COVID-19, the SEC going to be facing a daunting task in enhancing the poll percentage(%). It’s scheduling to involve NGOs for intensive voters’ awareness campaigns.
The ensuing elections going to be the 3rd from the GHMC has been created by merging surrounding municipalities with the afterwards Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad(Hyd).
The Congress & the All India(In) Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) revealed the power within the 1st GHMC with 52 & 43 seats, respectively.
In 2016, the ruling TRS scored a landslide victory winning 99 seats in 150-member body.
It’d washed far away the main opposition Congress & the Telugu Desam Party-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP-TDP) alliance, with both lowered to single digits.
The AIMIM withstood the TRS wave in its stronghold of the old city to emerge as the 2nd highest party with 44 seats. Although, the massive mandate for TRS deprived it of the kingmaker’s character, that it historically enjoyed within the municipal body.