Hyderabad Votes Today After BJP’s Top-Gun Campaign Vs Chief Minister KCR

Hyderabad:

After greater than every week of intense and vitriolic marketing campaign, over 74 lakh eligible voters are set to participate as we speak within the elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation or GHMC. Polling started at 7 AM.

The civic physique election is a high-stakes battle for the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the BJP, which is attempting to make inroads, and Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM. 

This has been essentially the most fiercely and bitterly fought municipal elections ever in Hyderabad with a high-octane marketing campaign by the BJP that flew in nationwide leaders – like Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Yogi Adityanath – hoping to persuade Hyderabad {that a} change was wanted.

Electoral points have gone past roads, sanitation, water provide, avenue lights, drainage and fundamental civic infrastructure, as to whether Hyderabad desires its identify modified to Bhagyanagar, and likewise if Telangana wants a brand new ruling get together. The BJP’s Tejasvi Surya, the Bangalore South MP, made divisive remarks whereas taking over the TRS and the AIMIM. He was additionally charged for coming into the enduring Osmania University with out permission in his marketing campaign for the town civic polls.

Last week, Chief Minister Ok Chandrashekhar Rao sought to strike an emotional chord with the individuals, interesting to them to “save the city from divisive forces”, hinting on the BJP which has staked a lot within the metropolis elections.

Mr Owaisi and Telangana minister KT Rama Rao have been among the many early voters this morning. Voting will proceed until 6 PM.

A complete of 1,122 candidates are contesting the civic physique election throughout 150 divisions, unfold over 4 districts. In the final municipal elections in February 2016, the ruling TRS had gained 99 seats, Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM gained 44, the BJP gained 4, the Congress gained two and the Telugu Desam Party managed to get one.

Over the final decade, the polling share has been historically decrease within the civic physique elections, as in comparison with the state election, with hardly 45 per cent voter turnout. The voting share in 2009 was 43 per cent; it was 46 per cent in 2016.

Heavy safety has been deployed at 9,101 polling stations, with the state police indicating that they’ve data of some components attempting to disturb peace and incite bother.

Over 50,000 police personnel are on the bottom amid a number of rumours of money and liquor distribution. The election campaigning ended on Sunday at 6 pm.

Precautions to test the unfold of the extremely infectious Covid have been put in place, state Election Commissioner C Parthasarathy mentioned. Wearing of masks is obligatory on the polling stations.

All polling cubicles have been disinfected and sanitisers have been supplied at each sales space.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) space has 63 containment zones, as per the official information.

Across 1,700 polling stations, solely 800-1,000 voters are allowed as a substitute of the sooner restrict of 1,400.

Ballot papers are getting used as a substitute of the EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines). Electors photograph id or considered one of 18 various photograph id will be proven. Elderly voters and girls with kids needn’t wait in queues. There’s no provision for on-line voting although postal ballots have been allowed.

Nearly 1.5 lakh individuals concerned in floor help. Overall, 2,700 polling stations have been recognized as “sensitive”, together with 257 in “critical” class, and 1,004 are marked “hypersensitive”.

The GHMC was shaped in April 2007 by merging 12 municipalities and eight gram panchayats with Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH). Four districts fall inside GHMC limits, together with Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri and Sangareddy.