Telangana Chief Sec. asks officials to ensure smooth conduct of rural local body polls

Telangana Chief Secretary S K Joshi Saturday asked district Collectors, Superintendents of Police and other officials to make arrangements for the smooth conduct of rural local body elections in the state this month, making use of the experience gained in the recent Assembly polls.

Joshi, who held a video conference with district officials from here, asked them to work in coordination for the peaceful conduct of Gram Panchayat elections to be held in three phases, an official release said. State Election Commissioner Nagi Reddy briefed the officials about various aspects of the elections, including polling personnel, polling stations, counting of votes. State DGP Mahender Reddy said the SPs have the experience of conducting the Assembly polls with re-polling not having to be conducted anywhere and they should approach the local body polls with the same objective, the release said.

Gram Panchayat elections in Telangana would be held in three phases beginning January 7. The state election commission released the schedule for the elections on Tuesday last. The first phase begins on January 7 and ends on January 21. The second phase is from January 11 to 25. The third phase begins on January 11 and concludes on January 30, he had said. The number of Gram Panchayats is 12,732 and wards is 1,13,170. The number of eligible voters is 1,49,52,058. Polling would be held from 7 AM to 1 PM. Counting of votes is taken up after the conclusion of polling.

(With inputs from agencies.)