Hyderabad, November 13: The government has declared November 23 as a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act for all government offices and educational institutions situated in the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation where elections are being conducted to enable voters to exercise their franchise.
1,310 candidates in fray
As many as 1,310 candidates are in the fray for the elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) slated to be held on November 23.
The Congress is contesting all the 150 wards while Telugu Desam has fielded 141 candidates. The BJP is contesting in as many as 137 wards, PRP for 64 wards, MIM fielded 70 candidates while the CPM is contesting for 35 wards and CPI for 13 seats. The remaining candi-dates are contesting as independents.
Sixteen candi- dates are in fray in Somajiguda, Yousufguda, Old Bowenpally and Suraram Colony while 15 are contesting in Ramanthapur, Gowlipura, Moosapet, Mothinagar and Quthbullapur wards.
SEC issues guidelines
The State Election Commission (SEC) has issued guidelines with regard to setting up of temporary offices for campaigning by candidates of various political parties in the GHMC elections.
The guideliness are as follows: Offices should not be in religious, educational institutions, hospital or within 200 metres of an existing polling station and private property.
DGP reviews arrangements
Director-General of Police R R Girish Kumar Thursday made a whirlwind tour of the sensitive parts of the Old City in the wake of GHMC elections. The DGP along with the City Police Commissioner B Prasada Rao reviewed the bandobust at Asif Nagar, Tappachabutra and Mangalhat. Speaking to reporters at the Charminar police station, Girish Kumar said elobarate bandobust would be made at all the sensitive parts of the Old City for the smooth conduct of the polls.
–Agencies