Municipal Elections polling today

52 lakh voters to decide fate of Telangana's cities and towns

The Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) is all set to conduct high-stakes municipal elections on February 11 (Wednesday), across 123 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), marking a significant urban verdict for the state's political landscape.

The polls will cover seven Municipal Corporations and 116 Municipalities, encompassing a total of 2,996 wards. This electoral exercise follows the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct since January 27, in all districts except Hyderabad, and comes after intense campaigning.

Over 52.43 lakh eligible voters, including 26.80 lakh women, 25.62 lakh men, and 640 from other categories, are expected to cast their ballots at 8,203 polling stations spread across 32 districts. The Municipal Corporations involved include Karimnagar (66 wards), Ramagundam (60), Nizamabad (60), Mahabubnagar (60), Mancherial (60), Kothagudem (60), and Nalgonda (48). The 116 Municipalities account for the remaining 2,582 wards, with a total of 12,930 candidates in the fray, representing major parties such as Congress, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and independents. Polling will be conducted in a single phase from morning till evening, with provisions for re-polling on February 12 if necessary. Vote counting is scheduled for February 13, followed by the swearing-in of elected members on February 16, and elections for chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, mayors, and deputy mayors via show-of-hands.

Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure a free and fair process, including the setup of 133 counting stations and comprehensive training for polling staff. The SEC, under Commissioner Rani Kumudini, has coordinated with Additional DGP Mahesh Bhagwat through video conferences to oversee preparations. Security remains a top priority, with 25,000 police personnel deployed statewide, supplemented by over 3,000 from departments like Forest, Excise, CID, and Legal Metrology. Among the polling stations, 1,302 are classified as hyper-sensitive, 1,926 as sensitive, and 4,975 as normal. Full webcasting has been implemented at all booths, with additional external cameras at hyper-sensitive locations, monitored in real-time from a command and control center at the Telangana Police Headquarters in Lakdikapool. Nearly 11,000 surveillance cameras are in place to deter malpractices.

Border surveillance is intensified with 20 interstate check posts along borders with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, alongside 55 inter- and intra-district posts. Enforcement teams, including 181 Flying Squads and 167 Static Surveillance Teams, have conducted rigorous checks, leading to seizures worth ₹3.09 crore across 988 FIRs. This includes ₹1.29 crore in cash, ₹1.21 crore in liquor, ₹15.7 lakh in drugs, ₹13 lakh in freebies, and over ₹28.69 lakh in precious metals. Preventive actions encompass the deposit of 1,183 licensed arms, binding over 4,318 individuals for good behavior, and executing 398 non-bailable warrants. 

Additionally, 2,900 rowdy sheeters have been identified, and Section 144 has been imposed around polling stations. Liquor shops will remain closed until the evening of February 11, with a zero-tolerance policy for violations, including reports of cash, gifts, and liquor distribution during campaigns.

The elections, conducted on a party-symbol basis, are poised as a fierce contest between Congress, BRS and BJP in some districts with implications for urban governance control. The SEC urged voters to participate responsibly, emphasizing the polls' role in shaping local administration.