The stage is set for intense electioneering in the next three weeks as the Election Commission of India has issued notification for the forthcoming elections to Telangana Legislative Assembly, slated for December 7.
Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi has issued gazette notification for the conduct of the election after obtaining the consent of Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on Monday. The notification was immediately followed by filing of nominations by candidates from different political parties. According to the Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar, over 40 candidates, mostly belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party, filed their nominations on the first day. Reports relating to 112 constituencies were received till late evening with a majority witnessing no nominations while reports pertaining to 7 more constituencies were awaited.
The last date for filing nominations is November 19 and they will be scrutinised the next day. November 22 is the last date for withdrawal of nominations.
The campaign by the contesting candidates and parties will come to close on December 5 evening followed by polling for the 119 Assembly constituencies in a single phase on December 7. Counting of votes would be taken up on December 11 along with four other poll-bound States and the election process should be completed by December 13, according to the notification.
Polling will be held between 7 am and 5 pm in 106 out of the 119 constituencies for which elections are being held.
The election authority had decided to hold polling between 7 am and 4 pm in the remaining 13 constituencies which were identified as sensitive to left-wing extremism. These constituencies are: Sirpur, Chennur (SC), Bellampally (SC) Mancherial, Asifabad (ST), Manthani, Bhupalapally, Mulug (ST), Pinapaka (ST), Yellandu (ST), Kothagudem, Aswaraopeta (ST) and Bhadrachalam (ST).
Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar said over 2.76 crore voters were expected to exercise their franchise in 32,574 polling stations - 12,245 in urban areas and 20,329 in rural areas - across the State and all arrangements had been put in place for smooth conduct of the polls.
