Commissioner sounds poll bugle for GHMC; administration on alert

Hyderabad: Sounding a poll bugle, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner Lokesh Kumar has asked officials of different departments to co-ordinate for the forthcoming urban bodies elections.

In a meeting on Wednesday, Lokesh Kumar, who is also the election authority, asked the officials to discharge their duties honestly and impartially.

Directions have been issued to form flying squads and static surveillance teams immediately. The Law department has been asked to authorize the teams with magisterial powers.

Similarly, the DMCs and ACPs have been asked to prepare route maps. The identification of polling stations has almost been completed. Directions have been issued to initiate the process for identifying sensitive, highly sensitive, and vulnerable polling stations.

The identification of distribution and reception centers has already completed. The permission for the conduct of rallies and meetings will be issued by the Deputy Commissioners and ACPs

Speaking on the occasion, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjini Kumar said GHMC elections are different from Parliament and Assembly Elections.

"This time ballot paper is being used during GHMC elections and given the Covid-19 pandemic, the polling personal should be more vigilant," he said.

Joint Police Commissioner Tarun Joshi has been appointed as Nodal Officer for GHMC elections. In the next 2 to 3 days there will be online training classes for the police personnel, he said.

DCP A.R.Srinivas was appointed a nodal officer for Khairtabad Zone. Kamlesh was appointed nodal officer for Secunderabad Zone and Gajarao Bhoopal was appointed nodal officer Charminar Zone.

Further, he said due to recent incessant rains and flooding of schools, the condition of polling stations has to be reassessed.

Cyberabad police Commissioner Sajjanar said there are 38 Municipal Wards under his jurisdiction.