Gold Newspaper

Representational picture. Reuters

The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) appeared set to retain management of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), because it bagged 55 of the 150 wards as of 9.40 pm on Friday.

So far, the outcomes of 144 wards have been declared with the TRS successful the utmost seats, adopted by BJP on the second place (46 seats) and AIMIM (42 seats) on the third place, at 9.40 pm as per the State Election Commission web site. Congress has gained two seats whereas outcomes for six seats are nonetheless awaited.

TRS confronted powerful competitors from Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which gained a nominal lead briefly on Friday night. As of 9.40 pm, the AIMIM had gained 42 seats.

Meanwhile, the BJP’s high-profile marketing campaign, which additionally noticed Union minister Amit Shah canvassing within the GHMC polls, reportedly paid off because the saffron get together has gained 46 seats, rising because the second-largest get together within the civic polls.

The BJP has made an enormous enchancment as in comparison with its efficiency within the 2016 civic polls when the get together had gained simply 4 seats in alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Lastly, the Congress was a distant fourth with simply two seats to its identify.

The Okay Chandrasekhar Rao-led TRS had swept the elections 4 years in the past, successful 99 of the 150 wards.

Telangana minister KT Rama Rao on Friday spoke to reporters because the counting of votes forged within the GHMC polls was underway.

“I thank the people of Hyderabad who chose TRS as the single largest party to represent them in Council. The result is certainly not what we expected, we are short of 20-25 seats. We lost about 10-12 divisions with an extremely narrow margin,” he mentioned.

The BJP, in the meantime, termed the outcomes an ethical victory for the get together with normal secretary Bhupender Yadav claiming that the BJP is the one “only alternative” to the ruling TRS in Telangana.

The civic ballot end result can also be a morale booster for the BJP because it has come quickly after its victory in final month’s bypoll to the Dubbak Assembly constituency.

Ballot papers have been used within the election to the 150-ward Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on 1 December. Counting of votes started at eight am on Friday with postal ballots being counted first. The BJP was forward of its rivals within the postal poll votes.

The polling proportion was an unimpressive 46.55. Out of the 74.67 lakh voters, 34.50 lakh electors exercised their franchise.

While the ruling TRS fielded candidates in all of the 150 wards, BJP arrange nominees in 149 wards. The Congress, AIMIM, and TDP fielded candidates in 146, 51, and 106 wards, respectively.

Around 1,200 candidates have been within the fray for 150 wards within the metropolis.

Additionally, the mayor’s put up has been reserved for a girl this yr, The Indian Express reported, including that the counting of votes has been gradual on account of the usage of poll papers for the polls. This was completed as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

With an eye fixed on the 2023 Telangana Assembly polls, the BJP had high leaders like Shah, JP Nadda, Smriti Irani, Yogi Adityanath, and Prakash Javadekar hit the marketing campaign path for the Hyderabad civic physique polls, studies mentioned. Meanwhile, the TRS banked on the charisma and efficiency of KCR, as chief minister Rao is understood.

Meanwhile, the Telangana High Court on Friday suspended a round issued by the State Election Commission (SEC) which permits counting of votes with “distinguish marks” aside from the usual Swastik image (crossed arrow mark), for the polls held for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

Hearing a House Motion, Justice Abhishek Reddy whereas suspending SEC’s round mentioned the ballots which have “distinguish marks” must be stored individually, and if they’re detrimental to the ballot outcomes, the end result shouldn’t be introduced.

“If the margin is less than the disputed ballot papers, then the disputed ballot papers shall not be taken into account and the result of the Ward may not be declared,” the courtroom order mentioned.

Earlier some Returning Officers requested the SEC what they need to do in case they discover some “distinguish mark” as a substitute of the Swastik image on any poll paper.

Based on that the SEC on Thursday night time issued a round saying “if the intention of the voter is clear on marking to a particular candidate the vote can be treated as valid since it is the mistake of the polling officer…”

The petitioners Antony Reddy and Okay Surender (a candidate within the GHMC polls) sought the courtroom to declare the round issued by the SEC as unlawful, arbitrary, and opposite to the election legal guidelines.

Sources within the SEC instructed PTI that each one the returning officers have been communicated in regards to the excessive courtroom directive and act accordingly. The matter was posted to 7 December for additional listening to.