Polling began for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections on Monday morning, amid tight security arrangements.
The polling began at 0700 hours and will continue till 1700 hours and about 57 lakh voters would cast their vote at 5719 polling stations spread across the Andhra Pradesh capital.
The state Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for the polling by drafting over 26,000 polling personnel and as many as 13,347 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in to service.
Over 18,000 policemen and three companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and special forces of OCTOPUS, the elite anti-terror force of Andhra Pradesh police are providing security to the mammoth exercise.
In all, 1310 candidates are in fray for the 150 divisions of the GHMC.
The party-wise breakup of candidates: INC -150, TDP-141, BJP-137, PRP-64, MIM-70, CPI-35, CPI(M)-13, Lok Satta 126, other registered parties 34 and Independents 540.
