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 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.
Rama Rao has also attacked the BJP government at the
Centre, alleging that it did precious little for the new state.
Hitting out at the TRS, Telangana Congress President N Uttam Kumar Reddy today alleged that the state government is now making various promises with an eye on elections.
He also alleged that the TRS is now trying to woo the Seemandhra natives, described as 'settlers', to win the GHMC polls.

Reddy said the TRS has not implemented its election promise of providing 12 per cent reservation to Muslim minorities.
Alleging that the TRS government is announcing various sops to win the GHMC polls, state BJP president G Kishan Reddy said the voters would not be carried away by such attempts.
He claimed that substantial number of voters' names have been deleted from the electoral rolls in places like Kukatpally where a large number of Seemandhra natives live.