Polling in Nizamabadto be held from 8 am to 6 pm

Polling in Nizamabad Parliament constituency in Telangana, where 185 candidates, including over 170 farmers, are in the fray would be held from 8 am till 6 pm on April 11, election officials said Sunday.

Polling time in other 16 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state would start at 7 AM after one hour of mock polling.

In Nizambad, in view of large number of contestants, two hours would be set apart for the mock polling, pushing the actual commencment of polling to 8 AM. To offset for the delayed start, the closing time had been extended to 6 pm, they said.

In view of the large number of contestants in Nizamabad, poll timings will be 8 am to 6 pm. All the candidates have been allotted symbols. They are available online and they can download, Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar told reporters here.

The farmers had jumped into the poll fray in Nizamabad, where Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K Kavitha is seeking re-election, protesting alleged failure of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi to ensure minimum support price for turmeric and red jowar (sorghum) produce.

They are also demanding setting up of a turmeric board.

After the Election Commission turned down their plea for postponing the poll in Nizambad by a week to enable them campaign effectively, a section of farmers last week have moved the Telangana High Court for the relief.

The court is to hear the matter Monday.

A total of 443 candidates are in the fray in Telangana with Nizamabad topping the list with 185. The state goes to polls in the first phase on April 11.