Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) election is a matter of personal prestige for the Telangana Chief Minister and TRS chief K Chandrashekhara Rao. The Chief Minister who is popularly known as KCR has left no stone unturned to ensure victory of the ruling TRS in the GHMC election. Even though twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are the centre of Telangana state, the TRS does not have much influence in the city.
Both the Lok Sabha seats in the twin cities – Hyderabad and Secunderabad are held by the MIM and the BJP respectively. The neighbouring Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat has gone to the TDP. Out of 15 Assembly seats in the GHMC area, the TRS managed to win just two seats in the 2014 Assembly polls.
The TDP, BJP and MIM are much stronger here. The TRS blames the non-Telangana population whom they derisively call “settlers” for this. The TDP chief and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu has also taken this election as a matter of prestige. He is hoping that the natives of Andhra Pradesh, who are settled in the twin cities will back the TDP. The BJP is facing the ire of Dalits after the suicide of a PhD student Rohith Vemula at the Hyderabad Central University. According to some media reports the BJP candidates were chased away by the Dalits in 65 wards. But, the BJP rubbishes these claims.
The Congress is also hoping that it can win substantial number of seats. A local Congress leader predicts that it can win 35-40 seats out of total 150 seats. For the Congress, it is an opportunity to revive the party.
The TRS is also aware of all these points which may go against it. Because of that KCR is making all possible efforts to woo the voters by promising freebies and other welfare schemes. The high decibel campaign of the TRS was led by his daughter and Nizamabad MP K Kavitha and his minister son K T Ramarao. They campaigned extensively across the city wooing the voters.
KCR himself campaigned in the city and told the voters that Chandrababu Naidu can’t do anything as he is the chief minister of neighbouring state AP. The defeat in GHMC would be a huge loss of face for the TRS government and the entire party machinery is working for the success.
A win for TDP will boost the ratings of Chandrababu in Hyderabad. The Owaisi-led MIM with seven MLAs in the city looks stronger and can play decisive role in deciding the next ruler of GHMC.
The high-pitch campaign for the GHMC election came to an end on Sunday evening. The polling is scheduled for Tuesday and the GHMC officials have made all necessary arrangements for the much awaited elections.
As many as 1,333 candidates are contesting in 150 divisions and their fate will be decided by 74,23,980 voters.
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