Ahead of the crucial elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the ruling Telangana Rashtr Samiti (TRS) has painted the city pink, its official colour by putting thousands of hoardings, flexis and cutouts.
In a move which has evoked a strong reaction and criticism from the Opposition, TRS has not left an inch of available open space by putting up big hoardings with a beaming face of the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and highlighting various schemes and initiatives of his Government including the Watershed, uninterrupted power supply, housing projects for the poor, She teams for women’s security and welfare of minorities.
The hoardings, which started appearing much before the GHMC poll schedule was announced by the State Election Commission, were part of an aggressive campaign of TRS to seek the support of the voters in Hyderabad where it failed to gain much support in 2014 polls.
However if the number of hoardings and other publicity material was an indication, the TRS seems to be throwing everything in this battle of prestige to make in roads into the Opposition TDP-BJP stronghold.
Of the 24 Assembly seats under the GHMC, TDP-BJP alliance had won 13 seats with only 3 going to the TRS.
Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), with its traditional hold over almost half of the city and which was part of one ruling coalition or the other in the city corporation for more than 25 years, seems to be closely following the TRS in putting up the hoardings with green color dominating the old city skyline. MIM hoardings and flexis with the faces of party president Asaduddin Owaisi and his younger brother Akbaruddin Owaisi, were asking for the support of the people for the continuing development of the city.
MIM was likely to enter the fray with a tacit understanding with the ruling TRS but both the parties were denying
the same.
TDP-BJP alliance on one hand and the Congress on the other are so far quiet subdued in their campaign. Charging the TRS with the misuse of money and political power both the Opposition parties went to the Governor ESl Narasimhan demanding action and removal of the hoardings.
Telangana Congress president Uttam Kumar Reddy demanded to know the source of money for hundreds of hoardings.
However the TRS MP K Kavita defended the hoardings said that TRS was first to approach the people. “It will benefit from being the first mover”, she said adding that the hoardings were put up by the party leaders in their individual capacity.
Senior Minister K Taraka Rama Rao, who has emerged as the face of TRS in this election challenge the Opposition TRS flag over the city. “Is Opposition ready to accept the challenge”, he asked while addressing a meet the Press program of Telangana State Union of Working Journalists in Hyderabad on Monday.
Meanwhile the State election commissioner V Nagi Reddy said that a drive was launched to remove the illegal hoardings and flexis. “7729 billboards and flexis were removed so far”, he said adding that henceforth any banner or poster of a candidate will be added to his election
expenditure.
Congress kicked off its campaign with a big rally in MIM stronghold of the old city targeting its former ally and calling it a “communal force” which failed to solve the problems of the city.
TDP-BJP campaign will take off with a big rally at Nizam College Grounds on Tuesday. The joint rally of the two parties will be addressed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP National president N Chandrababu Naidu.
As the alliance was going all out to seek support of settlers or people of Seemandhra region, BJP leader K lakshman announced that if alliance was voted to power a person from Seemandhra will be made the deputy Mayor of the city.
“city can never forget the role of the TDP in its development”, said the TDP floor leader in Telangana Assembly E Dayakar Rao.