Vijayawada: Notification issued for municipal polls

Vijayawada: The State Election Commission on Monday issued notification for conducting polls to Nagar Panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporations.

State Election Commissioner Dr N Ramesh Kumar issued the notification for conducting elections to 12 municipal corporations and 75 municipalities and Nagara Panchayats.

Polls will not be conducted to four municipal corporations of Srikakulam, Rajamahendravaram, Nellore and Kakinada due to legal issues and other reasons like merger of villages and delimitation of wards etc.

Out of 104 municipalities in the State, elections will be conducted to only 75 municipalities and Nagara Panchayats. Polls will not be conducted in 29 municipalities and Nagara Panchayats due to technical and other reasons.

The Returning officers/election officers will give notification to 12 municipal corporations and 75 municipalities on March 11.

As per the schedule, nominations from candidates will be received from March 11 to 13 and the scrutiny of nominations will be held on March 14. Last date for withdrawal of nominations is March 16 and the publication of final list of contesting candidates is 3 pm on March 16.

Elections will be held on March 23 from 7 am to 5 pm and counting of votes will begin at 8 am on March 27 and results will be declared immediately.

Total number of wards in 12 municipal corporations are 671 and polling stations are 5,020. Total voters strength is 52,52,355. Of this, total men voters are 25,97,852 and women voters are 26,53,762 and the others are 741.

Total number of wards in 75 municipalities and Nagara Panchayats are 2,123 and polling stations are 4,287. Total strength of voters is 38,09,451. Among them the men voters are 18,61,212 and women voters are 19,47,507 and others are 732.

Thus the total number of wards in municipal corporations, municipalities and Nagara Panchayats are 2,794, number of polling stations are 9,307 and the total voters are 90,61,806. Men voters are 44,59,064 and women voters are 46,01,269 and other voters are 1,473.

Elections will not be held in the following municipalities and Nagara panchayats. Rajam, Tanuku, Palacole, Tadepalligudem, Gudivada, Tadepalli, Bapatla, Mangalagiri, Ponnur, Narasaraopet, Kandukur, Kavali, Guduru, Srikalahasti, Amadalavalasa, Rajampet, Pamidi, Bhimavaram, Jaggaiahpet, Akividu, Darsi, Gurajala, Dachepalli, Kondapalli, Penukonda, Kamalappuram, Bethamcherla, Kuppam and Buchireddipalem.

Of the total 29 municipalities and Nagara Panchayats where municipal polls are deferred, 10 municipalities/Nagarapalikas, are newly constituted, pre-election statutory activities were taken up and yet to be completed.

In the remaining municipalities and Nagara Panchayats in respect of one Nagarapalika namely Pamidi a proposal for demote as GP is under consideration at Government. Consequently, elections are not proposed to this Nagara Panchayat.

In two municipalities, namely Bhimavaram and Jaggaiahpet, consequent on inclusion of certain villages, Grama Panchayats, the pre-statutory activities have to be taken up afresh like delimitation of wards, publication of electoral rolls etc. So, elections are deferred.

In the remaining 16 municipalities/ Nagara Panchayats, due to the court orders on inclusion of Grama Panchayats/villages, delimitation of wards, the pre-election statutory activities could not be completed. The Election Commission has deferred the polls to these municipalities.