Hyderabad: Elections to 123 urban local bodies — 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations — across the state will be held in a single phase on Feb 11. Counting of votes will be taken up on Feb 13 and results declared immediately. The polls will be conducted using ballot paper.Telangana State Election Commission (TSEC) Monday announced the election schedule setting the poll process in motion. The model code of conduct (MCC) came into force across the state with immediate effect.State election commissioner Rani Kumudini said poll notification would be issued on Wednesday (Jan 28) and the process of filing nominations will begin the same day and continue till Jan 30. Scrutiny of nominations would be taken up the next day, while candidates will be allowed to withdraw nominations until Feb 3.After the declaration of results, election for municipal chairpersons and vice chairpersons, as well as mayors and deputy mayors would be held on Feb 16.The elections will cover 2,996 municipal wards. The commission has made arrangements for 8,203 polling stations, while 136 centres have been set up for counting.As many as 52.43 lakh registered voters — 26.80 lakh female, 25.62 lakh male and 640 others (transgender) — are eligible to cast their ballot in the municipal elections. The SEC has appealed to citizens to participate in the democratic process by exercising their franchise.Election authorities cautioned that strict action would be taken against any violation of the MCC, while police have started checks and surveillance.
