Curtains were rung down on a shrill and acrimonious campaign for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Sunday with all the political parties making a last ditch efforts to convince the voters that they were the best bets to develop Hyderabad into a global city.
The elections to 150 seats corporation with more than 7 million voters is witnessing a multi-cornered contest among the ruling TRS, TDP-BJP alliance, main Opposition Congress and the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, which ruled the civic body in the past.
Strict security arrangements were in place for the polling in February 2.
The campaign reached the crescendo with two bitter rivals the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh K Chandrasekhar Rao and N Chandrababu Naidu targeting each other in a no hold barred manner.
After leaving the field to his son and minister for information technology K Taraka Rama Rao till the last minute KCR addressed a mammoth election meeting last night seeking the support of the citizen to his Vision of a developed Hyderabad.
Responding to the claims of Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu that the city was developed to the present level during his rule in the past KCR reminded the people, “people remember Babu’s rule for firing in Basheerbagh and floods in which cars floated like boats on the city roads”.
Introducing an element of controversy in the campaign KCR claimed that even Naidu’s wife Bhuvaneswari promised to vote for the Telangana Rashtra Samiti. “Even Bhabi (sister-in-law) Bhuvaneswari promised our workers that her vote was for the TRS”, he told the meeting.
However the claim was strongly rebutted by Naidu’s sin lokesh Babu. Speaking on behalf of his mother lokesh said, “it is really unfortunate and sad that he chose to use me to confuse the voters. To set the record straight my vote is always for the TDP”
KCR also took objection to Babu’s statement that he will stay in Hyderabad and was not going anywhere. “First of all who asked him to leaveIJ We will give him 10-12 business licenses more to expand th business which his wife is managing so he can continue to stay”.
“But being a Chief Minister of another state is it proper for him to say he will stay in HyderabadIJ Will people allow if I say will stay in Amaravati”IJ
Urging people not to believe in Naidu KCR reminded them the bitter way in which he opposed the formation of Telangana state and tried to make Hyderabad a union territory.
KCR promised that his government will strive to develop Hyderabad into a global city like Dallas in USA. He also announced that his son KTR will be made for municipal administration to ensure faster development of the city.
The GHMC polls were an acid test for TRS and KCR as the party has traditionally been weak in the city and could win only 3 if the 25 assembly seats in GHMC region.
Apart from KCR his son KTR and daughter and MP Kavitha and almost entire cabinet aggressively campaigned for the party
TDP BJP alliance on the other hand was heavily banking on the 2.5 million settlers or the people of Andhra origin settled in the city.
Most of the TDP campaign was run by Naidu’s lokesh and many ministers from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. BJP’s campaign figured Union ministers M Venkaiah Naidu from Andhra, Bandaru Dattatreya who was in the eye of the storm for the last fortnight after suicide by a Dalit student of Hyderabad University. Many other central ministers also campaigned for the party.
Though the TDP and BJP entered into an alliance differences remained on seat sharing and friendly contests affected their prospects.
Chandrababu addressed a series of meetings in the city that entire development of Hyderabad carries his stamp.
“Victory of TDP BJP alliance in this election is a historic necessity”, he said warning that if they were defeated no party will take development of the city seriously.
He recalled how as the Chief Minister of AP he worked hard to develop Hyderabad into IT hub, convinced Bill Gates to set up Microsoft Center, and brought projects like Indian School of business and Greenfield Shamshabad International Airport.
Away from this political slugfest the MIM leaders Asaduddin and Akbaruddin Owaisi campaigned in their traditional style going door to door to retain their hold on the Muslim dominated old city. MIM which had won 42 seats in the last election and shared power with Congress having its Mayor for half of the term was seeking to retain its share and was likely to emerge as one of the key player.
Acknowledging that MIM might have an important role to play after the elections KCR described it as “friendly party”.
With no party likely to get a majority the TRS And MIM were likely to enter into an alliance.
Congress which was running far behind in the race tried to aggressively target the MIM in its den and organized rallies in the old city. Party general secretary Digvijay Singh addressing the election meeting carved MIM with failing to keep its promises of development. MIM is also facing a challenge from a breakaway group MBT in a couple of wards.
The MIM has come out with a Plan of action for the city laying emphasis on 24 hour water supply improvised civic infrastructure and housing for the poor.
Asaduddin Owaisi,MP, in his campaign targeted mainly the BJP-TDP alliance and charged them with pursuing an anti minority and anti Dalit agenda. Triggering a controversy he warned that if TDP BJP alliance comes to power in Hyderabad they will impose a ban on beef like they did in neighbouring Maharashtra.
One Hyderabad Alliance comprising of the left parties and lok Satta were also in th fray but unlikely to make much of an impact.