HYDERABAD: Persons having more than two children after May 1, 1995 are not eligible for contesting for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections under Section 21-B of the act.
Apart from this, failure to pay arrears of any kind to the Corporation is a disqualification u/s 23 (c). The issue was brought to the notice of political parties by the Election authority and GHMC Commissioner S P Singh during a meeting held with the representatives of political parties here on Friday. It was attended by Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad and Cyberabad, Hyderabad District Election Officer, District Collectors of Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medak. Singh requested the parties to cooperate with the officers and staff connected with the election for the conduct of free and fair elections.
Political party representatives- N S Prabhakar Rao (INC), B Ravi (National Congress Party), Chintala Ramachandra Reddy, G Venkat Reddy (BJP), N Venkatesh (CPI), P S N Murthy (CPI-M), S Yellanna (BSP), P L Srinivas, (TDP), V S Ravuri, C Satyam (PRP), V Ravider (Lok Satta), P J Suri (Janata Dal- S) and other representatives from TRS, NTRTDP, Samajwadi Party, Mana Party and others attended.
The Commissioner explained the election notification by the State Election Commission for conduct of GHMC elections 2009 and the election schedule. Returning Officers will issue Public Notice in Form-7 on October 31 (Nominations can be filled from Saturday between 11 am to 3 pm).
Last date of filing nominations is November 6 (Upto 3 pm), The nominations will be scrutinised on November 7, Last date for withdrawal of candidatures is November 10 (upto 3 pm). Final list of contesting candidates will be published on November 10 after 3 pm.
Singh has asked the political parties not to deface the walls, erect banners, flags and usage of vehicles without permission.
The first level randomisation will be conducted at the GHMC Head Office in the presence of the political party leaders or representatives.
The second level of randomisation will be conducted poll station-wise by the ROs in the presence of the political party leaders or representatives.
The first level commencement of EVMs (candsetting) will be organised by the ROs in the presence of the political party leaders, representatives duly inserting the Ballot Paper in the B.U.s. The Commissioner said at each GHMC circle, the Deputy Municipal Commissioner concerned has been directed to convene a meeting with all representatives of political parties to inform them about the election arrangements made in their area and to seek cooperation and suggestions if any.
Similarly, he has directed the Returning Officers of each election ward to convene a meeting with all representatives of political parties to inform them about the arrangements made and seek suggestions and cooperation.
Earlier, a training programme for all the returning officers and assistant returning officers was conducted at Hari Hara Kalabhavan and the District Election authorities explained about the election guidelines.
Nominations on holidays
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will receive nominations of the contesting candidates for the GHMC polls even on Sunday and public holidays, District Election Officer and GHMC Special Commissioner, M T Krishna Babu said. Nominations from candidates will be received from October 31 to November 6 for which list of nomination centres for issuing and submitting forms have been announced yesterday.
For the first time, the election commission is going to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for Greater Hyderabad corporation elections.
As many as 7,000 EVMs and equal number controlling units are needed for the conduct of the corporation elections and another 5,000 EVMs are kept as reserve. When the contesting candidates are more than 16 for a ward, another EVM has to be fitted. Each EVM accommodates 16 candidates, he said.
The GHMC has identified over 275 auxiliary polling stations. In a polling station where the voter strength are more than 1,500 there is a need to have another polling booth as per the Election Commission of India guidelines.
