Hyderabad: Expecting a green light from the state govt to proceed with the gram panchayat polls soon, the Telangana State Election Commission (TGSEC) has begun preparations for the local body elections. The SEC has sent the list of the symbols to the district collectors and asked them to print the ballot papers.
Official sources said that since the rural local body elections are being held on a non-party basis, the sarpanches and ward members would be given symbols without any party names or party symbols. However, the zilla parishad elections will be held on a party basis.
“While 30 symbols have been identified and finalised for sarpanch candidates, 20 symbols are for ward members of the panchayats. The ballot papers, pink in colour for sarpanches and white for ward members, are being printed with the symbols, which will be allotted to the candidates. There will be a NOTA option in the ballot papers too,” an official of the TGSEC told TOI on Saturday.
To avoid confusion in rural areas, where some may be illiterate, only those symbols were selected that are common in rural areas, such as a ring, scissors, football, TV remote, toothpaste, dust bin, spanner and bat, for sarpanches and gas stove, frock, cylinder, almirah, whistle, stool for ward members. The ballot papers are being printed, taking an average of eight contestants for sarpanches, six for ward members.
Collectors have published the electoral rolls, and ballot boxes and other arrangements are being made for the polls. Officials said the idea is that once state govt gives approval and finalises the reservations, the SEC will issue a notification immediately and conduct elections within three weeks. SEC has already sent the material, including instruction booklets for providing training to the staff, and nodal officers have been appointed to supervise issues. Collectors have been asked to keep additional ballot boxes.
