45.27 percent polling in Greater Hyderabad municipal polls

HYDERABAD, Feb 3: Elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) held on Tuesday recorded 45.27 percent turnout, officials said on Wednesday.

According to GHMC commissioner and special officer Jardhan Reddy, 33,60,543 voters out of 74,23,980 cast their votes in 150 divisions.

The turnout was slightly better than the 42.92 percent recorded in 2009 when the first election was held after Greater Hyderabad was created with the merger of surrounding municipalities and villages with the city.

In 2009, 23.98 lakh voters out of 56.99 lakh had exercised their franchise.

In the elections held on Tuesday, the highest turnout of 67.4 percent was recorded in Rajendergar division. Vijayagar colony division recorded the lowest percentage of 33.98.

Counting of votes will be taken up on Friday. GHMC officials have made elaborate arrangements for counting.

The process will begin amid tight security at 8 a.m. at 24 places in the city. All results are likely to be declared by afternoon.

This was the first GHMC election after the formation of separate Telanga state.

The ruling Telanga Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is expected to emerge as the largest party in the 150-member body. The exit polls conducted by various Telugu television channels have given 70-80 seats to the TRS, which had no representation in the previous body.

The ruling party is likely to have post-poll alliance with the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) to have their candidates as mayor and deputy mayor. The exit polls predicted that MIM may get 35-40 seats.

The TDP-BJP alliance is expected to get 25-30 seats, while the Congress is likely to win only 10-12 seats.

In the previous body, the Congress shared power with MIM. (IANS)