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Hyderabad, Nov 9 (Baquer Ali Jaffri – PMI): The Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election in Hyderabad will be closely monitored through drones to ensure transparency and security. District Election Officer (DEO) R.V. Karnan announced on Sunday that drones will operate across 130 locations, covering 407 polling stations, to provide real-time surveillance of polling areas and their surroundings.
Addressing a media briefing at the GHMC head office, Karnan said that voting will continue until 6 p.m. on November 11, while counting of votes is scheduled for November 14. He added that to prevent overcrowding and maintain order, tokens will be issued to voters.
A total of 58 candidates are in the fray for the high-profile bypoll. Each polling station will be equipped with one control unit, four ballot units, and one VVPAT. The DEO assured that any EVM malfunction will be addressed immediately by replacing the faulty machine.
To maintain law and order, over 1,760 additional security personnel, including paramilitary forces and local police, have been deployed. Joint Commissioner of Police Tafseer Iqbal said that 226 critical polling stations have been identified across 65 locations. “Sufficient forces are positioned to ensure peaceful polling,” he added. The police have also bound over 230 rowdy sheeters and registered 27 cases for Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations.
Campaigning for the by-election concluded on Sunday evening.
The BRS has fielded Maganti Sunitha, widow of the late MLA Maganti Gopinath, while the Congress has nominated Naveen Yadav. The BJP candidate is Lanka Deepak Reddy, who contested unsuccessfully in the 2023 Assembly elections. The AIMIM, led by Asaduddin Owaisi, has extended its support to the Congress.
The bypoll carries high political stakes for the ruling Congress, which is seeking to strengthen its position in Hyderabad after failing to win any seat in the city during the 2023 Telangana Assembly polls. A victory in Jubilee Hills is seen as vital for the party’s urban consolidation.(pressmediaofindia.com)
