What is the Process for Jubilee Hills Bypolls in Hyderabad?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Nomination filings are open until October 21.
- Polling will take place on November 11.
- Jubilee Hills has 399,000 registered voters.
- Election authorities are actively maintaining the Model Code of Conduct.
- New electoral reforms are being implemented.
Hyderabad, Oct 13 (NationPress) The bypoll process for the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency in Hyderabad commenced on Monday as the Returning Officer issued the official notification.
Candidates are permitted to submit their nominations until October 21. The scrutiny of these nominations will take place on October 22, and candidates may withdraw their applications up to October 24.
Polling is scheduled for November 11, with vote counting set for November 14.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has provided guidelines for nomination submissions. R.V. Karnan, the Hyderabad District Election Officer, confirmed that nominations will not be accepted on public holidays.
This by-election was prompted by the passing of the previous MLA, Maganti Gopinath from the BRS, in June.
During the 2023 elections, Gopinath achieved a remarkable victory, defeating the former Indian cricket captain and Congress candidate Mohammed Azharuddin by a margin of 16,337 votes.
In a competitive race, Gopinath received 80,549 votes, while Azharuddin garnered 64,212 votes.
The BJP candidate, L. Deepak Reddy, finished third with 25,866 votes. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, also contested but secured a distant fourth with only 7,848 votes.
The BRS has nominated Gopinath's wife, Maganti Sunitha, as its candidate, while the Congress has put forward Naveen Yadav.
The BJP is expected to announce its candidate shortly.
According to the most recent electoral roll, the constituency boasts 399,000 voters: 207,382 males, 191,593 females, and 25 third-gender voters.
In the preceding 2023 Assembly elections, the constituency had 385,287 voters, indicating a 3.49 percent increase in voter registration.
Voting will occur across 407 polling stations located in 139 areas within the constituency.
The election authorities are rigorously implementing the Model Code of Conduct. They have already removed 2,176 political posters as part of their efforts, with 1,431 from government properties and 745 from private premises.
Any breaches of the MCC will face strict repercussions, reaffirming the authorities' dedication to maintaining transparency and accountability throughout the election process.
This by-election is one of the first to be conducted under the new electoral reforms introduced by the ECI, which were initially rolled out during the Bihar Assembly elections and in by-elections across eight Assembly constituencies nationwide.