AIMIM likely to win Hyderabad MLC seat as local body election held after 22 years

Hyderabad: AIMIM is poised for a likely victory in the Hyderabad Local Body MLC election, which was held on Wednesday for the first time in 22 years. The election, initially expected to be uncontested, saw a surprise contest after the BJP fielded a candidate, prompting a full-fledged poll.

Out of 112 eligible voters – comprising 81 corporators and 31 ex-officio members – 88 cast their votes, recording a turnout of 78.57%. The polling took place between 8 am and 2 pm at the GHMC headquarters, with no voters turning up in the final two hours despite the extended voting window.

AIMIM’s candidate Mirza Riyaz Ul Hassan Effendi is in the fray against BJP’s Dr N. Goutham Rao. With the BRS boycotting the election entirely on the orders of working president K.T. Rama Rao, and Congress also opting out due to insufficient numbers, the contest effectively narrowed to AIMIM versus BJP.

Based on party-wise voting trends, an AIMIM win is being widely anticipated. The counting of votes will take place on Friday, 26 April, from 8 am at the GHMC main office.

This marks the first time in over two decades that polling has been required for this seat, as previous candidates had been elected unopposed. BJP’s decision to contest, despite lacking the necessary numbers, created significant political buzz and intrigue.

BJP candidate Goutham Rao accused Congress of indirectly backing AIMIM, alleging that the ruling party had turned into a “stooge” of AIMIM. He also claimed that the alliance between BRS and Congress had been exposed during this election.

Adding to the political drama, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy appeared at the polling venue dressed in black to protest the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Other BJP voters wore black ribbons on their arms as a symbolic gesture.

The Hyderabad Local Body MLC seat was vacated as the term of sitting BRS MLC MS Prabhakar is set to end on 1 May. The unexpected contest and strong turnout have made this a notable electoral event in the state’s local political landscape.