Though the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) and Congress parted ways over the Bhagyalaxmi temple row eight months ago, the two parties did not stop sharing power and posts in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). They have now decided to continue sharing berths in the civic body’s standing committee, elections to which will be held on June 6, for the fourth consecutive year. Incidentally, the last date for filing nominations for the 15-member standing committee ended on Monday.
The standing committee is the most powerful body in the corporation as it takes policy decisions on all issues during its weekly meetings. The committee headed by the mayor could reject or alter any proposal made by officials. As of now, works costing above Rs 20 lakh are placed before the standing committee for approval. If the works are above Rs 50 lakh, administrative sanction from the standing committee is mandatory.
The standing committee poll schedule was announced recently. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is June 1.
Though the official announcement was yet to be made, it has been decided that of 15 members, the Congress would field eight candidates, while MIM seven corporators would contest in the elections for smooth sailing. The MIM has already announced names of seven candidates and nominations have been filed by them a couple of days ago leaving eight seats to the Congress.
Sources said the Congress was dilly-dallying whether to have an alliance with the MIM in the standing committee elections or not. PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana and Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee president Danam Nagender held discussions with party leaders recently and decided to continue sharing of power with the MIM.
Both the Congress and MIM parties have been sharing power since the 2009 GHMC elections. A Congress candidate held the mayor post for two years, while MIM candidate Mohd Majid Hussain has been holding the top post for the past one-and-half years and might continue in the post till December, 2013.
In the last year of the five-year term, the mayor post would again go to the Congress. When the mayor post goes to a party, the other party candidate would hold the deputy mayor post. “The Congress does not have an alliance with the MIM in the corporation. Both the parties have been working based on an understanding,” Congress floor leader in the GHMC Diddi Rambabu said.
Meanwhile, 19 candidates have filed their nominations for standing committee elections. Ten Congress candidates (two dummy nominations), seven MIM members, one each from TDP and BJP filed their nominations.
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen-Cong-ties-in-Greater-Hyderabad-Municipal-Corporation-to-continue/articleshow/20302902.cms