Hyderabad: District Collector T. Vinay Krishna Reddy on Saturday directed returning officers and assistant returning officers to conduct the upcoming local body elections with full legal compliance and without procedural lapses.
Officers urged to follow election code precisely
Speaking at a training session at the Integrated District Office, the Collector stressed that officers must thoroughly understand election procedures. He urged them to plan early and follow all rules strictly to avoid errors during the MPPTC and ZPTC polls.
Master trainers explained key procedures including nomination filing, scrutiny, withdrawal, final list preparation, symbol allotment, agent appointments, and postal ballot handling.
Returning officers have key responsibilities
The Collector told officers to issue election notifications in line with the State Election Commission’s schedule. From that day onward, they must begin accepting nominations and clearly outline procedures in the notification.
He also directed them to verify whether candidates and their proposers appear in the local voter list. During submission, only the candidate and two companions should be allowed inside. He stressed that officers must handle withdrawal requests by proposers with caution and approve them only after full verification.
Mock nominations and help desks required
The Collector instructed officers to print candidate names on ballots in Telugu alphabetical order. He added that if candidates submit multiple nominations, they must review every form and record the status of acceptance or rejection along with reasons. To aid the process, he asked them to set up help desks at nomination centers and the ZP CEO’s office.
He insisted that mock nominations be conducted before the official schedule begins. According to him, this will help identify and prevent mistakes in real-time. Moreover, he called for daily reporting and uploading of scanned nomination documents to the election portal.
Ensure transparency and accurate documentation
The Collector recommended video recording during peak hours of nomination filing and withdrawal. These recordings, he said, will serve as useful documentation when needed. He concluded that an error-free nomination process would lead to smooth polling and counting.
Additional Collector Ankit, ZP CEO Saya Goud, Deputy CEO Sayanna, DEO Ashok, Housing PD Pawan Kumar, and other election officials took part in the session.
