Gram Panchayat Polling stations swell to 1,13,380 in Telangana

​Hyderabad: The number of polling stations in gram panchayats are set to rise substantially as new panchayats have been established in addition to the existing ones in the State. 

According to officials of State Election Commission, as many as 24,698 new polling stations would be established in 12,751 gram panchayats, which would go to polls in next month. 

The Panchayat Raj officials have been identifying suitable buildings for the establishment of polling stations at the ward level. The exercise would be completed by June 4. 

A senior official of the SEC told The Hans India that more polling stations would be established than those in previous elections as new panchayats have been established. The official said that one polling station would be established in each gram panchayat ward. Two ballots, one for Sarpanch and one for Ward Member, would be put in one ballot box provided in each polling station. 

In previous elections, 88,682 polling stations have been established. In the ensuing elections, SEC will have to establish another 24,698 polling stations in addition to the existing ones taking the total number to 1,13,380. 

As soon as the polling stations are identified, the officials would begin procuring the staff to hold the polls, which would be held in three phases, and services of about 40,000 to 50,000 government staff would be utilised.  The SEC instructed the officials to prepare the draft list of polling stations of the gram panchayats based on the Ward-wise electoral rolls published on May 17. The final list of polling stations has to be published by June 4. 

The Mandal Parishad Development Officers concerned have been entrusted with the work of identification of polling stations, preparation of list of polling stations, publication of draft and final list of polling stations. The District Collectors would obtain the lists from the MPDOs concerned, scrutinise and approve them before their final publication. 

The MPDOs have been strictly instructed to physically inspect the buildings proposed for polling stations of all gram panchayats in their respective mandals and satisfy themselves that the proposed buildings are suitable for polling stations as per the instructions. 

The SEC is firm on conducting the gram panchayats elections in July and has told the district officials to complete all the arrangements by second week of June. The officials have been enumerating the BC voters and the reservations would be finalised by June 10. 

The SEC would be ready with reservations, polling stations and the staff by second week of this month. It would announce the schedule of polls in the third week of this month.