Hyderabad: Mayor elections will take place today across 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations in Telangana, as several urban bodies face hung verdicts after the recent civic polls. District Collectors have completed arrangements for the process.
Newly elected ward councillors and corporators will take the oath at 11 am. Immediately after the oath, officials will hold special meetings to elect Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons. Authorities will count ex officio votes along with those of elected members. Subsequently, officials will administer the oath to those chosen for key posts.
Where parties have crossed the required majority, the Mayor elections are expected to conclude without difficulty. However, in corporations with fractured mandates, political activity has intensified. Parties have moved their members to camps. They plan to escort them directly to municipal offices for the oath ceremony in order to prevent cross-voting.
Mayor elections heat up in hung corporations
Karimnagar Municipal Corporation has emerged as the key battleground. In the 66-member House, the BJP won 30 divisions but failed to secure a majority. Congress secured 14 seats, while BRS won 9. MIM captured 3 seats. Independents and Forward Bloc together hold 10 seats. Since no party reached the halfway mark, both the BJP and Congress have stepped up efforts to win additional support.
Similarly, Nizamabad has witnessed intense negotiations. In the 60-member corporation, the BJP won 28 divisions and needs 31 to claim the Mayor post. Congress secured 17 seats, AIMIM won 14, and BRS won one. As a result, parties continue talks to gather the numbers required 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 reached an understanding. However, Congress leaders are still attempting to secure the Chairperson post there.
