GHMC polls today

The stage is set for polling in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections Tuesday that witnessed a high-voltage campaign among the ruling TRS, opposition Congress, TDP-BJP combine and the MIM. About 74 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in about 7,000 polling stations from 7 AM to 5 PM tomorrow. Elaborate security arrangements have been made by police to ensure a free and fair poll. The counting of votes would be taken up on February 5. The electioneering for the GHMC resembled a Legislative Assembly poll with senior leaders from all major parties hitting the streets months before the polling. Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, M Venkaiah Naidu, Radha Mohan Singh, Prakash Javadekar and Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Bandaru Dattatreya were among those who campaigned for the candidates of the BJP-TDP alliance. TDP President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who takes credit for turning the city into an IT hub, canvassed for the candidates of the alliance for two days. AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh and the Telangana Congress leaders took part in the campaign for the party. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, his son and state IT and Panchayat Raj Minister K T Rama Rao undertook a vigorous campaign to wrest the civic body in the metropolis. MIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi was the star campaigner for the party. As many as 24 Assembly segments come under the GHMC limits. The GHMC elections assumed importance in view of the size and nature of the city.