This was the first election for the Congress after the death of its charismatic leader, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, and the poor show in the civic polls will give the party much food for thought. Though the Congress did emerge as the single largest party in the polls, there is not much joy in its camp.
The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) retained its hold in the old city and also made inroads into the new city and has 43 seats in its kitty. With this, the MIM can play kingmaker or bag the post of mayor with the support of the Congress or the TD.
The BJP managed to win only five wards this time and Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam won one. While four Independents secured victories, the Lok Satta drew a blank.
Even as trends started pouring in, the Greater Hyderabad Congress president, Mr Danam Nagender, admitted that YSR’s death had affected the party’s fortunes. The Congress has 14 MLAs and three Lok Sabha MPs in Greater Hyderabad, which has 24 Assembly segments. The TD has only one MLA. But the Opposition turned the tables with its performance.
The TD attributed its victory to the development works it took up during its nine-year rule, and the failure of the Congress in improving civic amenities and controlling rising prices of essential commodities.
The Congress had fielded 150 candidates, TD 141, BJP 137, Lok Satta 126, MIM 70, PR 64, CPM 35 and CPI 13. The TRS,
however, did not contest the election. Senior Congress leaders admitted that infighting in the party and failure on its part to convince the settlers that the party will stand by them in case of the Telangana factor also cost it dearly in GHMC polls. Protests by candidates who were denied tickets and allegations of tickets being sold did not go well with the voters. The media’s coverage of protest demonstrations by the candidates gave bad publicity to the Congress, the leaders said.
however, did not contest the election. Senior Congress leaders admitted that infighting in the party and failure on its part to convince the settlers that the party will stand by them in case of the Telangana factor also cost it dearly in GHMC polls. Protests by candidates who were denied tickets and allegations of tickets being sold did not go well with the voters. The media’s coverage of protest demonstrations by the candidates gave bad publicity to the Congress, the leaders said.
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