Telangana Election Commission opens a voter helpline for rural body elections. Polls will be held in five phases starting October 23 across 31 districts.

Hyderabad: The Telangana State Election Commission (TSEC) has launched a dedicated call center to assist citizens ahead of the upcoming rural local body elections. Voters can reach out at 9240021456 for queries, clarifications, and grievance redressal related to the polls.

The elections will be conducted in five phases between October 23 and November 8, covering Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs), Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs), and Gram Panchayats. Voting for ZPTCs and MPTCs is scheduled for October 23 and 27, while Gram Panchayat elections will take place on October 31, November 4, and November 8.

According to the schedule announced on September 29, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force in 565 mandals across 31 districts. Elections will decide representatives for 565 ZPTCs, 5,749 MPTCs, 12,733 Gram Panchayats, and 1,12,288 wards, with a few constituencies kept out due to ongoing court cases.

Analysis: The move to set up a helpline shows the Commission’s effort to make the election process more transparent and voter-friendly. With rural constituencies often facing communication gaps, the call center could help bridge that divide. However, effective publicity of the number and timely redressal of complaints will determine whether this initiative truly benefits villagers.