After a gap of three-and-a-half years, the city will come under the rule of an elected body by April first week with the State Election Commission announcing the schedule for election to municipal bodies.
The city will have 59 wards and elections will be held as per boundaries fixed in 2005. Of this, 16 divisions are unreserved; a total of 16 divisions are reserved for women; BC (General) will have 10 divisions, while BC (Women) have 10 divisions; three divisions for SC (General); three divisions for SC (Women); and one ST (General).
The unreserved divisions are Nos. 3, 8, 9, 13, 14, 21, 23, 24, 25, 28, 39, 42, 45, 46, 47 and 57. Reserved (Women) divisions are Nos. 1,2, 5, 6, 12,18, 19, 32, 34, 37, 48, 49, 52, 54, 58 and 59; BC (General) 10, 11, 22, 26, 27, 33, 38, 40, 44 and 53; BC (Women) 17, 20, 29, 30, 31, 35, 36, 43, 55 and 56; SC (General) 16, 50 and 51; SC (Women): 4, 7 and 41; ST (General) 15.
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The Mayor’s post, which was reserved for women during last two councils, has been thrown open for general category this time. In 2000, the Mayor’s post was reserved for women-general and in 2005, it was reserved for BC women.
During the last two terms also, the mayor was elected through indirect elections. As many as 6,94,258 electors will exercise their franchise in the elections. Of this, women voters are 3,45,420 and men voters are 3,48,769 while the remaining fall under ‘others’ category.
The date of filing nominations is from March 10 to 14. The date for scrutiny of nominations is March 15 while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 18. The final list of publication of contesting candidates is March 18. The date of polling is March 30 (Sunday) and date of re-poll if required is April 1. Counting will take place on April 2.
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The Congress party had 29 divisions in its pocket in 2005 elections. The Left parties had 17 divisions while the TDP had won 10 seats.