Hyderabad: The ‘Nota’ (None Of The Above) option is all set to make a debut in the gram panchayat elections to be held in Telangana in July. Till now, this option was restricted to Lok Sabha and Assembly elections so far. For the first time, the State Election Commission has decided to provide Nota option on ballot paper for the panchayat elections. It will be printed at the end of the ballot paper.
Officials have been asked to create awareness about the option as literacy rate is low in rural areas, where these polls are going to be held. SEC commissioner Nagi Reddy on Wednesday said that the elections for gram panchayats will be completed by July-end.
Mr Reddy said holding panchayat elections in a free and fair manner will be a huge challenge for the commission in the wake of violence witnessed in recent panchayat elections held in West Bengal, where deaths were reported.
The commissioner reques-ted the state government not to take up any fresh programmes till panchayat polls are completed in July. He urged state government to deploy police personnel from neighbouring states to ensure free and fair elections. It was decided to complete enumeration of BC voters by June 1 to determine BC reservations.
