Counting of votes in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Elections was delayed by a few hours in view of the re-polling at 50 polling stations in Puranapul area of the city on Friday, Commission GHMC Janaradhan Reddy told the media on Thursday.
Repolling was ordered in view of the allegations of irregularities and disturbances in the polling on Tuesday. Puranapul division witnessed violent incidents between the supporters of Majlis and the Congress as a Majlis rebel Mohammed Ghouse is Congress candidate and Majlis was trying its best to retain its hold on the seat.
The exit polls have shown the TRS ahead of all its rivals with about 70 seats in 150 member Corporation and Majlis at second position with 40 seats. TDP-BJP alliance was also shown at the same position with around 35 to 40 seats and the Congress was trailing at the fourth position.
Janardhan Reddy said that the counting of votes will start at 3pm and the results were expected by the late evening. Security arrangements were tightened in view of the tension and Section 144 prohibiting gathering of more than five people was imposed on the city.
The police was not taking any chances in view of the violent incidents on Tuesday in which the MIM supporters attacked the state Congress president Uttam Kumar Reddy, former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir, and son of deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali.
Incidents of violence during polling for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation GHMC on Tuesday has crystalized a new and unusual opposition unity in Telangana with the Congress party joining hands with its bitter rival TDP and the BJP to demand action against the Majlis-e-Ittehadul MUslimeen (MIM).
A day after a delegation of the leaders of three parties met the state governor ESl Narasimhan urging him to take over the law and order in view of the failure of the state government in ensuring peace, the governor summoned the city police commissioner K Mahinder Reddy and asked about the action the police had taken following Tuesday’s incidents. The delegation of three parties urged the governor that he should take the law and order powers in his hands by invoking section 8 of the AP State Reorganization Act.
According to sources Commissioner in his report informed the governor about the arrests and the cases booked against the MIM leaders Asaduddin Owaisi, Akbaruddin Owaisi and another MlA Ahmad Balala.