10 candidates to contest on AAP banner in polls

Hyderabad: For the first time Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is contesting Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections. In the recent municipal elections, AAP’s Umme Salma won from Ward 31 in Adilabad’s Ambedkarnagar, marking the first win for the party in Telangana.
A total of 10 independent candidates will contest on AAP banner. After the broom symbol was not allotted by state election commission (SEC), Aam Aadmi Party contestants decided to contest as independent candidates and use AAP banner while campaigning.
According to ECI officials, the symbols have been allocated as per norms. “Any party which wants specific symbol should register with state election commission. For specific symbol allocation there are additional charges. The symbols are allotted as per symbol allotment order, there is no discretion,” state election commissioner C Partha Sarathi told TOI.
The part was expecting more nominations if symbol was allotted. “We shortlisted 45 candidates but the broom symbol was not allotted by SEC, as a result the number of contestants reduced to 10,” said Telangana AAP convenor Burra Ramu Goud.
“We are positive that our candidates will win all the 10 seats,” he added. The 10 candidates include M Jeswanth Reddy, who will contest from BN Reddy Nagar and K Jeevitha, who will contest from IS Sadan.
AAP is contesting two wards from Khairtabad constituency.