Hyderabad: Battle for Baldia today

Hyderabad: The stage is set for the prestigious battle for Baldia. While the TRS is making all-out efforts to see that it retains its 99 seats which it had won in the last elections, the BJP wants to make deep inroads. This had led to a high-voltage campaign resembling an Assembly or Parliamentary election with several top leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah participating in the electioneering.

Both the TRS and BJP are trying to ensure that the poll percentage this time goes up substantially and people start going to the polling stations from 7 am. The polling will conclude at 6 pm. As many as 74,44,260 voters would exercise their franchise. According to the State Election Commission, Covid safety measures and strict police vigilance have been put in place to ensure free and fair elections. Elections will be conducted with ballot papers in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last time also ballot papers were used.

More than 48,000 polling staff, including Micro Observers and Flying Squads have been pressed into service to monitor the poll arrangements. Around 53,000 police personnel have been deployed across the polling stations to main law and order.

The SEC also deployed a team of doctors to ascertain the health condition of the polling staff on the polling day. The SEC would be monitoring the polling from the central control room.Arrangements for 150 Strong Rooms have been made to preserve the ballot boxes in the city until the counting day on December 4. The TRS has deployed a team of leaders to all poll-bound divisions for poll management to mobilise the voters.

The BJP, which is making all-out efforts to show its strength in the civic body elections, also constituted a team of leaders exclusively for poll management. The party was paying special attention to the Old City which is the bastion of the AIMIM.

Union Minister of State for Home and BJP incharge of GHMC elections G Kishan Reddy held a teleconference with all contestants and ascertained the party's winning chances. Reddy was taking special measures to win all 38 division which fall under the Secunderabad Lok Sabha segment from where the Union minister was elected MP in 2019 elections.

The Telangana Congress was also leaving no stone unturned to win a considerable number of divisions in the Greater Hyderabad elections. Malkajgiri Lok Sabha segment has 48 divisions and this has become a prestige issue for TPCC working president A Revanth Reddy who represents this Lok Sabha constituency.