Election machinery gears up for Jubilee Hills by-poll

The stage is set for the Jubilee Hills Assembly by-election. While political activity heats up, the election machinery has also begun its preparations. District Election Officer and GHMC Commissioner R.V. Karnan held a high-level review meeting with nodal officers, instructing them to ensure that all arrangements are ready for smooth and efficient elections. He emphasized that since the notification can be issued at any time, the election team must be prepared at all moments.

Staff and materials In the initial meeting at the Baldiya headquarters, Commissioner Karnan reviewed key aspects of election management. He guided officials on future actions. Discussions were held on selecting staff and arranging necessary materials for polling. Officials were advised to deploy staff from areas outside the Jubilee Hills constituency. Instructions were given to prepare Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), ensure their safe transport and operation, and create voter awareness. Election staff must be trained properly, and the election code must be strictly followed. A district security plan will be implemented to maintain law and order, with safety measures at every polling station.

Problem resolution A special team will be set up to quickly resolve election-related complaints. Commissioner Karnan also directed the establishment of monitoring systems including live webcasting and SMS updates at polling stations. Following Election Commission guidelines, officials were asked to ensure all basic facilities - drinking water, toilets, waiting sheds - are available for voters. Voter awareness campaigns and a media communication plan will be carried out to inform the public about the elections.

Future plans Commissioner Karnan said another meeting will be held in a week. Meanwhile, nodal officers were instructed to prepare a PowerPoint presentation summarizing election readiness. With the by-election notification likely any day, the review meeting showed that the election machinery is alert and ready. By completing all necessary arrangements in advance, officials aim to conduct the by-election smoothly without any hurdles. Amid rising political activity, GHMC’s efforts to speed up election preparations have become a key focus.