Hyderabad: The ruling TRS turned all predictions and expectations of its adversaries topsy-turvy in the GHMC elections by convincingly capturing over 100 Divisions and thus established its power and supremacy in one of the biggest corporations of the country.
What is more, by having secured an absolute majority in the 150-Division Corporation, the TRS can thus comfortably occupy the prestigious and coveted Mayor and Deputy Mayor seats on its own.
The MIM party came second by capturing 33 seats, while the TDP-BJP combine had to be content with —- seats. However, the biggest drubbing and humiliating defeat was suffered by the Indian National Congress, which managed to win just three Divisions.
It is pertinent to note here that while the TRS, which did not contest the 2009 elections had not only hit the century mark in its maiden entry in the elections but its speeding “car” crushed the Congress which won 53 seats in the last elections and shared power with the MIM, which had then bagged 43 wards. Even TDP and BJP, which together had won 50 wards in the past, now had to be content with just 11 seats.
However, contrary to all expectations, the MIM too suffered a big jolt as its margin of seats has come down from 43 to 33 now thus clearly sending a message to the Majlis leaders that they cannot claim the Old City to be their bastion and an impregnable fort for ever.
The TRS victory undoubtedly goes to the credit of KCR’s son, the IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao, who had relentlessly campaigned in all the Divisions and successfully impressed the denizens that the City of Pearls would truly become a smart city on global lines only under TRS rule. The results also is a clear pointer to the fact that even the settlers, who had their apprehensions about the pink party, seemed to have realized their best interests and welfare would be safe in the hands of TRS. This change of heart among the settlers undoubtedly was the efforts of KTR, who diligently and convincingly instilled confidence in them.
Among the prominent winners in the elections are Majid Hussain of MIM, who had served as Mayor, Gadwala Vijayalaxmi, daughter of TRS Secretary-General K. Keshav Rao, P.Vijaya Reddy (TRS), daughter of late Congress leader P. Janardhan Reddy, Srinivas Reddy (TRS) son-in-law of Home Minister Nayani Narsimha Reddy, TRS MLA Kanaka Reddy’s daughter-in-law Vijayashanthi, former Mayor and TRS leader Teegala Krishna Reddy’s daughter-in-law Anitha Reddy.
Another former Mayor and Congress nominee Banda Karthika Reddy lost the elections and so also former Congress Minister Mukesh Goud’s son Vikram Goud and daughter Shilpa Goud bit the dust.
The counting of votes was conducted in 24 centers and in each centre the counting for 6 to 10 Division were taken up. The counting process involved 873 rounds at 1674 tables. The counting process began first by taking up postal ballots around 3 pm and continued till the night. However, in view of the re-polling in Puranapul Division till 5 pm, there was a bar in announcing the results till the end of the repoll.
Unprecedented and tight security arrangements were made at all the counting centres and even cell phones were not allowed to be carried inside by anyone. Apart from enforcing Section 144 Cr.P.C. at all the centres, the police also banned bursting of crackers and celebrations of any sort, including taking out rallies by the winning candidates. (nss)