Another pink tsunami, TRS sweeps 90% urban civic bodies

HYDERABAD: There were no surprises in Telangana’s urban local body elections results declared on Saturday. The ruling TRS wiped out the opposition and won more than 90% of the municipalities and almost 80% of the municipal corporations.
Of the 120 municipalities and nine municipal corporations for which polls were held, the pink party secured 110 municipalities and seven municipal corporations.The Congress secured six municipalities while BJP won three.

Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM for the first time got two municipalities – Bhainsa and Jalpally. Communally sensitive Bhainsa in Nirmal district had seen a clash between two communities on January 12. Interestingly, TRS drew a blank in the town, making it a direct fight between AIMIM and BJP. Of the 32 districts in the state, TRS swept 27 by securing all the municipalities. Congress, BJP and AIMIM got municipal chairperson’s post in five districts.
Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, said parties never get one-side victories in consecutive elections especially in urban local bodies, but TRS has registered victories in all elections held for the past six years. “For other parties, elections are a game, but for TRS, it is a task which is accomplished,” he said.
The extent of TRS’s win can be gauged from the fact the party won more than 1,600 of the 2,727 wards. Congress finished a distant second with 508 and BJP got 240. AIMIM won 79 wards and is likely to get Nizamabad municipal corporation with the help of TRS.
Independents and candidates who contested on tickets of registered parties won in 258 places. Their support will be crucial in places like Meerpet corporation for mayor’s post.
In some municipalities, like Bheemgal in Nizamabad, all 12 wards went to TRS and none of the opposition parties could not get a single seat. In Nizampet, TRS candidate Kasani Sirisha got highest majority of 1,577 votes even as seven independents won here.
Voters in the surrounding municipalities of Hyderabad gave different verdicts, especially in Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts. Municipal corporations like Nizampet, Jawaharnagar, Boduppal, Peerzagidud and Bandlaguda, and municipalities like Pocharam, Ghatkesar, Kompally went in favour of TRS. BJP gave close fight in Meerpet and Badangpet corporations along with other municipalities like Amangal, Tukkugda and Maktal.
In municipal corporations, BJP is trying to secure the mayor’s post with the help of independents. In select municipalities outside Hyderabad, Congress gave a tough fight to TRS. In Nalgonda municipality, TRS and Congress got 20 wards each of 48. In Neredcherla, TRS and Congress got seven seats each and in Dharmapuri, Congress got seven while TRS secured eight seats.