Hyderabad, December 1: After a high-decibel election campaign over the last 12 days, polling for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC)began today amid high security across polling stations.

 

 

MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy, AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi casted their votes for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. Telangana Minister and TRS leader, KT Rama Rao casts his vote for GHMCE.

 

 

 

 

 

As many as 1,122 candidates are in the poll fray for 150 wards in GHMC, constituting 24 Assembly segments. More than 74 lakh people are eligible to vote in this election. There are 2,146 normal polling stations, 1,517 sensitive polling stations, and 167 hypersensitive polling stations. Unlike the previous polls, this time the state Election Commission decided to conduct polls with the ballot papers. Moreover, the polling time has been extended by an hour, i.e from 7 am to 6 pm owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

According to the EC rules, wearing a face mask is mandatory for voters coming to polling stations. Authorities have made it clear that those not wearing masks will not be allowed into the polling station. The GHMC has deployed 36,404 personnel for the polling duty. The personnel on Monday collected ballot boxes and other poll material from 30 distribution centers. They were also provided masks, sanitizers, and tissues.

 

Key BJP leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president J P Nadda, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy, and BJYM national president Tejaswi Surya played a crucial role in the election campaign.

 

The counting of votes for the poll would take place on December 4.