Parties In Telangana Gear Up For......

Parties In Telangana Gear Up For Hyderabad Civic Body Polls

With polls to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) round the corner, the ruling TRS, opposition Congress and the TDP-BJP combine are gearing up for the elections in the metropolis.The polls to the civic body in Hyderabad assume significance in view of the size and demographic profile of the city.

There are as many as 24 Assembly constituencies under the GHMC limits with a population of about 65 lakh. There have been allegations that the number of voters exceeded the population in GHMC.The GHMC polls, likely to be held in the coming few weeks, are a litmus test for the ruling TRS as the party has not been known to be a major force in the city.

TRS did not contest the last GHMC elections in 2009 and along in alliance with MIM which has significant presence in Old city is keen to win the coming elections to prove its complete domination in Telangana.

A majority of assembly segments under GHMC limits have been won by the opposition TDP-BJP nominees though some of the TDP MLAs switched loyalty to the TRS.

The TRS had kicked off its campaign for the poll much ahead of its rivals with a number of hoardings on the government's achievements installed at different locations in the city.

The TRS government had also announced property tax exemption for certain sections and other decisions like regularisation of contract staff and fresh recruitment in government departments.

In an informal chat with mediapersons, Telangana IT and Panchayat Raj Minister K T Rama Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, today said the TRS government has put the city firmly on the path of making it a world-class city.

Amid opposition allegations that TRS had earlier intimated the Seemandhra natives in the city, Rama Rao had earlier sought to reach out to them, saying that no unwanted incident against them has taken place since the formation of Telangana.