Telangana govt suggests ECI to hold ZP polls between Apr 22 & May 14

HYDERABAD: The Telangana government has suggested to the State Election Commission (SEC) to hold elections for zilla parishad (ZP) and mandal parishad territorial constituencies (MPTC) between April 22 and May 14. However, results of these elections will be declared only after Lok Sabha election results are out on May 23.

Sources said the elections will be conducted through ballot paper and not by using EVMs on the lines of panchayat elections. While the notification will be issued either on April 18 or 19, nominations for the first phase will begin on April 22.

Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao held a review meeting with ministers and officials on Friday and decided to go ahead with local bodies elections with the model election code still in place.

The government had already indicated its proposal to SEC and Election Commission of India (ECI) on elections to the local bodies a few weeks ago for which ECI had agreed but put the condition that election results should not be announced before the results of Lok Sabha election are out.

SEC is also preparing for holding elections as early as possible. The commission has decided to hold meeting with state level officers on April 15 and district collectors and superintendents of police on April 18 to review their preparedness.

Elections will be held for electing 535 ZPTC members and 5,857 MPTC members.

While ZPTCs elect ZP chairmen, MPTC members elect mandal praja parishad presidents.