Hyderabad civic polls to be held on 1 December, counting of votes on 4 December

Hyderabad: Elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) would be held on 1 December, the Telangana State Election Commission announced on Tuesday. State Election Commissioner C Parthasarathi said it has been decided to conduct the polls with ballot papers after obtaining the views of major political parties and the health department in view of COVID-19 pandemic and considering various relevant issues. Polling for the 150-member GHMC, presently held by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), would be held from 7 am to 6 pm on 1 December. The polling time has been extended by an hour in view of the pandemic situation, he said. Nominations would be accepted from Wednesday with the last day being 20 November. Scrutiny would be on 21 November and nominations can be withdrawn till 22 November, the state election commissioner said. Re-polling, if necessary, would be held on 3 December and the counting of votes would be taken up on the next day. The term of the present body expires on 10 February, 2021. The state government has decided to continue the same reservation system which was followed in the previous elections in 2016, Parthasarathi said. The post of Mayor is reserved for woman (General). The ruling TRS had won the last GHMC elections, bagging 99 of the total 150 wards. The polls the civic body is considered prestigious as it decides who rules the Hyderabad region, the crown jewel of Telangana. At least 20 assembly constituencies fall under the GHMC limits.