Paid Holidays Announced for Jubilee Hills Bypoll in Hyderabad

The Hyderabad District Collector, Harichandana Dasari, has announced paid holidays for offices and institutions in connection with the upcoming bye-election for the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency. The holidays will take place on November 10, 2023 (the day before polling), November 11, 2023 (polling day), and November 14, 2023 (counting day). This decision affects all offices and institutions designated as polling stations or counting centres for the bypoll.

According to The Hindu, the Collector emphasized that the holidays mainly target government schools and offices within the Jubilee Hills constituency that will be utilized for election purposes. “It mainly covers schools since teachers will be on election duty, and the buildings will serve as polling stations. The paid leave also extends to government offices in the area, as many staff members are registered voters,” Dasari stated.

Alongside the holidays, further regulations have been implemented. Bars in the area will remain closed, and food distribution or similar activities near polling stations will be prohibited. All department heads and institutional authorities have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with these orders, aiming to maintain order and facilitate a smooth electoral process.

The Jubilee Hills bye-election has drawn significant attention, with several candidates from major political parties vying for the position. The BJP has nominated Deepak Reddy, while the BRS is fielding Sunita, the widow of former MLA Gopinath. The ruling Congress has chosen Naveen Yadav as its candidate, with support from Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM.

Adding to the election’s complexity, R.V. Karnan, Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the District Election Officer, disclosed that out of the 407 polling stations, 226 have been classified as “critical.” This classification highlights the need for heightened security and monitoring during the election period.

As the Jubilee Hills bypoll approaches, the implementation of these measures aims to ensure a fair and orderly election, reflecting the importance of citizen engagement in the democratic process. With various candidates representing diverse political backgrounds, voters in Jubilee Hills are poised to make a significant decision that will impact their local governance.