GHMC polls today, slums hold key
Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 6:01 am
The fate of 1,310 candidates, including 907 men and 403 women, contesting for 150 wards of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, will be decided on Monday. Over 56.99 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise between 7 am and 5 pm.
The slum dwellers and settlers are going to call the shots in the first election being held to the civic body after formation of Greater Hyderabad.
Over 30 per cent of the city’s population lives in 1,448 slums. The counting of votes will be held on November 26.
Almost all the major political parties have promised the safety of settlers, who are from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, against the backdrop of a TRS-led Telangana agitation.
As many as 144 of the total 150 wards are set witness a multi-cornered contest between main political parties. A straight fight will be seen only in two wards with a triangular contest limited to four divisions.
The Opposition parties are trying highlight the deteriorating civic amenities, bad roads, traffic jams and rising prices of essential commodities apart from corruption in the Congress to win the elections.
For the Congress, winning less than 70 seats will be disappointing. Moreover, elections are scheduled for local bodies elsewhere in the state early next year.
The Telugu Desam will try to win back its hold in the city after it was routed in the general elections early this year. The TD managed to win only the Rajendernagar Assembly segment out of the 24 Assembly constituencies in Greater
Hyderabad. The TD-BJP alliance had ruled the erstwhile MCH with a combined a strength of 37 corporators.
Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam and the Communist parties are keen to open their account.
The MIM which was single largest party in MCH with 36 corporators, is now contesting from 70 divisions.(DC)
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