Ruling party in Telangana, TRS has emerged as the single largest party in the 150-ward Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) election, winning 55 wards. BJP bagged 48 wards and the AIMIM of Asaduddin Owaisi secured 44. Congress could win only two wards. The surge of BJP has stunned many in TRS camp.
While the election for GHMC was held for 150 seats or wards, the results of 149 were announced as counting of votes had to be stopped in a ward as per a High Court order. Counting had to be stopped in Neredmet ward as marks other than the standard Swastik symbol (crossed arrow mark) were in majority.
The Telangana High Court on Friday had kept a circular issued by the State Election Commission for counting of votes of the GHMC polls in abeyance. The circular stated that ballot papers with a distinguished mark instead of a ‘swastik’ mark should be considered as a valid vote.
It, however, directed the commission to go ahead with the counting of votes and permitted them to declare the result of those wards where subject ballot papers are less in number and cannot impact final results.
On the other hand, the court also made it clear to the SEC to not declare the result of any ward where ballot papers with distinguished marks are in majority and can affect the result, which happened in Neredmet.
Despite the high-pitched and polarizing campaigns by most parties that seemed to focus more on Pakistan and Mohammad Ali Jinnah than sanitation, roads, and water supply, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls reported an unimpressive 46.55 percent voter turnout on Tuesday. Elaborate arrangements had been made for the counting that took place at 30 places with the help of over 8,000 personnel. Officials stated that the counting was recorded with security cameras installed at every table.