Hyderabad: Mayor elections are set for today across 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations in Telangana, as several bodies face hung verdicts after the recent civic polls.
Newly elected ward councillors and corporators will take the oath at 11 am. Soon after, officials will conduct special meetings to elect Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons. Authorities will count ex officio votes along with elected members. Subsequently, officials will administer the oath to those elected to key posts. District Collectors have completed all arrangements.
Mayor elections intensify the contest in hung bodies
Where parties crossed the magic figure, mayoral elections are likely to conclude smoothly. However, hung verdicts have intensified political activity in several corporations. Parties have shifted members to camps and plan to bring them directly to municipal offices for the oath ceremony.
Karimnagar Municipal Corporation remains the key battleground. The BJP won 30 divisions in the 66-member House but fell short of a majority. Congress secured 14 seats, BRS won 9, and MIM won 3. Independents and Forward Bloc together hold 10 seats. Since no party reached the halfway mark, both the BJP and the Congress have stepped up efforts to secure support.
Nizamabad presents a similar picture. The BJP won 28 of 60 divisions but needs 31 to claim the Mayor post. Congress secured 17 seats, AIMIM won 14, and BRS one. Political negotiations continue as parties attempt to gather the required numbers for the Mayor elections.
In Kothagudem, Congress and CPI agreed to share the Mayor’s tenure for two-and-a-half years each. Meanwhile, in Kyathanpalli Municipality in Mancherial district, BRS and CPI formed an understanding. Congress leaders, however, continue attempts to secure the Chairperson post.