Secunderabad Cantonment Board polls: 70 free symbols get nod, D-Day on April 30

SECUNDERABAD: The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) on Friday approved 70 free symbols to contestants in the run-up to polls in eight wards, providing voters a wide-spectrum draw from baby walker, bangles, computer, frocks to flute on EVMs. The Cantonment Board announced voting will be held April 30, but uncertainty looms on the counting date — whether to be held on voting day or after 24 hours.
Cantonment board president Brigadier Somashankar chaired the board meeting and SCB chief executive officer, D Madhukar Naik, and SCB nominated member, J Rama Krishna, were also present. The CEO briefed members on the poll schedule through a power-point presentation, before official approval.
SCB allowed 20 days for the poll campaign, after declaration of the final candidate list. Nominations will be filed on March 28 and 29 and scrutiny will be done on April 1. A two-day window has been provided for withdrawal of nominations (April 3) and final list will be announced on April 6.
Candidates can choose from any of the 70 free symbols, which will be allotted on April 10 before kick-starting their campaign, an SCB official said.
A public notice on SCB polls will be out on March 1 and new voters can queue up to enrol themselves. Last date for inclusion of names is March 4 and after completion of procedure, including objections and appeals, the final voter list will be published on March 23 and displayed in notice boards of all SCB circle offices and also uploaded in the official portal, said the CEO.
Speaking to reporters, Madhukar Naik said, “Polling stations will be identified based on the final voter list. Thereafter, we will place an order for EVMs with the Telangana State Election authorities.” An SCB official said, with the annual exams getting over, government educational institutions can double up as polling centres.
The board will also approach the Telangana government for deployment of a senior revenue department official to work as ‘returning officer’. “Apart from SCB staff, we will also urge the government to allot more government officials to ensure polls are free and fair,” CEO Naik said.