3,827 nominations were filed on the day 1 for first phase panchayat polls

The filing of nominations for first phase of panchayat raj elections in 4,479 gram panchayats, has commenced in the State on Monday. On the first day, 3,030 nominations were filed for Sarpanchs election and 3,827 nominations were filed for ward members’ seats across the State. The last day for filing nominations for first phase is January 9 and the election will be held on January 21.

On Monday, the State Election Commission (SEC) made amendment to the Model Code of Conduct for Local Body elections stating that when ordinary elections are notified either for the rural local bodies or the urban local bodies located in the entire State, the Model Code of Conduct is applicable to the respective areas in the entire State. Thus, the State government has been enabled to take general decisions for smooth functioning of the State administration.

Further, the Commission clarified that except for those working in the capacity of managing agent, manager or secretary of the Company or the Corporation, all employees of Singareni Collieries Company Limited and Telangana State Road Transport Corporation are eligible to contest the local body elections.

Of total 12,741 gram panchayats, the SEC is holding elections for 12,732 panchayats. Elections to about 19 panchayats will not be held due to various factors including the remaining tenure of the existing elected representatives.

The polling will be held in three phases on January 21, 25 and 30, where the process has begun for 4,479 panchayats on Monday. In all, elections to about 1.26 lakh ward members and sarpanch posts would be held in 12,732 gram panchayats.

Meanwhile, the SEC issued orders placing the panchayat secretary of Chamledu village who is also in-charge of Chamalonibavi gram panchayat in Gurrampode mandal of Nalgonda district. The panchayat secretary K Swarupa Rani reportedly distributed four members of a family in four different wards without following proper guidelines in Chamalonibavi.