The schedule for the Telangana gram panchayat elections was released today by State Election Commissioner V Nagi Reddy.
The schedule for the Telangana gram panchayat elections was released on Tuesday by State Election Commissioner V Nagi Reddy through a notification.
Ballot papers and not EVMs will be used for the polls, which will be held in three phases, on January 21, 25 and 30. The ballot papers will also have the NOTA option.
Addressing the media, Reddy said that a total of 12,732 gram panchayats with 1,13,170 wards would go in for elections, and that the Election Commission had set up 1,13,190 polling stations across 31 districts. 4,480 gram panchayats will go in for polls in the first phase, 4,137 panchayats in the second phase, and 4,115 panchayats in the last phase.
The polling will be conducted from 7 am to 1 pm, and the results will be announced on the same day.
Candidates belonging to the general category in the fray for the Sarpanch posts will need to pay Rs 2,000 each, and candidates belonging to reserved categories will need to pay Rs 1,000 each. Likewise, candidates belonging to the general category in the fray for ward member posts need to pay Rs 500 each, and those belonging to reserved categories will need to pay Rs 250 each.
The election expenditure per candidate for panchayats with 5,000+ population is limited to Rs 2.50 lakhs, and that for panchayats with less than 5,000 population is limited to Rs 1.50 lakh. Anyone violating the poll expenditure limits will be disqualified even if he/she wins.
Informed sources said that the Chief Minister is seeking legal opinion on whether to seek more time from the courts to conduct the elections and in the meantime issue an ordinance reserving 67% of the posts for BCs, STs and SCs.