VIJAYAWADA: District collector C.M. Saikanth Varma on Thursday disclosed that all arrangements have been completed to ensure that local body elections in Guntur district are conducted in a peaceful, transparent, and impartial manner.
Addressing a press conference at the Collectorate, he outlined the election schedule, nomination process, polling, and counting arrangements, and measures taken to ensure smooth conduct of elections.
Elections to the urban local bodies in Guntur and Tenali will begin with filing of nominations on October 16. Polling will be held on October 28 and counting of votes on October 30. For the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) elections, nomination process will begin on October 21, followed by polling on November 3 and counting on November 5.
Polls for gram panchayat elections will be conducted in three phases. Nominations for the first phase will begin on November 15, with polling on November 26. The second phase of polling will commence on November 18, with polling on November 29. Nominations for the third phase will begin on November 21, followed by polling on December 2.
Votes in the gram panchayat elections will be counted on the respective polling days.
The collector said Guntur Municipal Corporation had 76 wards and Tenali municipality 52 wards. Guntur had 6,09,667 voters while Tenali’s total electorate is 1,57,089. Returning officers, assistant returning officers, and zonal officers have been appointed. To prevent electoral malpractices, 50 static surveillance teams and 50 flying squads had been constituted.
With the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in force, all political parties must strictly adhere to the prescribed rules, Saikanth Varma underlined. Officials have been directed to coordinate their efforts and take all steps to prevent any untoward incidents.
He assured candidates that there would be no delay in issuing caste certificates required for contesting elections. Applicants would receive their certificates within 24 hours. Those already possessing integrated caste certificates need not apply afresh.
Sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations have been identified. Additional personnel would be deployed at these locations. Around 6,000 employees have been assigned election duties across the district.
Among those present at the press conference included district revenue officer N.S.K. Khajavali.
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