In the last GHMC elections, AIMIM won 44 and TRS won 99 out of 150 seats.
In the municipal elections of Greater Hyderabad in 2016, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) had contested 60 seats, of which they won 44 seats. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won 99 seats, of which 5 were in the old city division. Hyderabad Old City has a 65% Muslim majority and 30% of the population are Hindu, according to the 2011 census. The Old City has always been a stronghold of AIMIM.
For the last several years, TRS and AIMIM have been known to be “friendly” parties. However, in the last GHMC elections, TRS had run candidates even in AIMIM strongholds. This time too, they made it clear that they will contest the 150 seats and that, compared to the last GHMC elections, this time they will take home a bigger piece of the old city victory cake.
While addressing the media at a ‘Meet the Press’ event on Thursday, TRS Acting President KT Rama Rao said: “TRS has no alliance with MIM in GHMC polls. TRS will compete in all 150 divisions. Last time, TRS won five divisions in the Old City. This time, we will defeat the MIM candidates and win at least ten divisions in the Old City. A TRS corporation will be named mayor. “
Speaking to TNM, a senior AIMIM party official said: “We will compete from 60 seats in the next elections. We had won 44 seats in the last GHMC elections, this time we are confident of improving this number. “
According to him, Congress has given up hope of a resurgence and BJP only hopes to regain the share of votes it lost to TRS in the last GHMC election. He also noted that around 10-15% of minority votes had leaned in favor of TRS in the last election.
In the last elections, the BJP won Gowlipura, Ghansibazar and Begum Bazaar, which are located in the Hyderabad parliamentary constituency. While Dubbaka’s bye election victory has given them a much-needed shot in the arm, BJP is busy strategizing in hopes of improving their account in this election.
According to the MIM, they will focus their efforts on places where the party won or lost by a narrow margin. Jambagh was one of those constituencies in which the AIMIM candidate, D Mohan, won by a margin of 5 votes.
Once AIMIM announces its candidates, the Owaisi brothers are expected to launch padayatras and campaign programs. According to the senior party official, AIMIM relies heavily on about 40 seats, which is considered the party’s stronghold.
With the confidence of AIMIM not only to retain its strongholds, but also to add to its account, the statement of the acting president of TRS about the pink party that defeated the MIM candidates and won 10 divisions in the old city has only intensified the battle.
The AIMIM party official concludes by saying: “Everyone goes into a fight hoping to win. Let them work hard, we too will do the same ”.
READ: GHMC Elections: In addition to the Owaisi AIMIM, the newly formed AIMIM (Inquilab) is also in the fray
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