Hyderabad: MIM, with win in 44 divisions, a kingmaker now

HYDERABAD: Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) party will play a vital role in the formation of the next GHMC council and the mayor’s post as the party won 44 wards.
In 2016, the party contested 60 wards and won 44, but this election, the party contested in 51 seats and lost only seven wards. Irrespective of the mayoral candidate, the party will have a prominent presence in the GHMC standing committee.The committee is the apex body of GHMC, which takes important decisions.
Like the earlier committee, the new standing committee formed will at least have six corporators from AIMIM.
The committee plays a vital role in giving sanctions. Any work exceeding Rs 2 crore would have to be approved by the committee headed by the GHMC mayor. As per norms, works below Rs 2 crore can be approved by the GHMC commissioner and zonal commissioners.
Former mayor Mohammed Majid Hussain, who contested from Medhipatnam ward on AIMIM ticket retained his seat, and will play a key role in the standing committee.
Hussain was also looking after Bihar assembly polls, where the party won five seats.
Several corporators retained their seats twice in a row, including Syed Minhajuddin, who won for the third time from Akberbagh ward and Saleem Baig from Riyasat Nagar, who won for the fourth time. Puranapul candidate Raj Mohan also won for the fourth time. The AIMIM also defeated rival Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) in Azampura ward with a margin of over 3,000 votes. The party also replaced sitting BJP corporator of Ghansi Bazar. The party was unable to retain the Jambagh ward, won by BJP.