HYDERABAD: Though the low turnout of voters in the municipal elections dampened the spirits of all the political paHYDERABAD: Communist Party of India State secretary K Narayana has regretted the low percentage of voter turnout in the GHMC elections.
In a press release here today, he said that GHMC elections were no less than the elections to the Assembly and were held at a critical juncture. The voting percentage should have been high in the wake of rising prices, land encroachments, infrastructure and mining controversies, he felt. His party was able to take its agenda to the people with the help of its allies, CPM and TDP, and push the Congress and BJP on the defensive on the Obulapuram issue.
Narayana attributed the low turnout mainly to the the local bodies not having enough powers. He criticised the CPm for contesting from Baghlingampally. ties, the main contenders the Congress and the TDP were expecting around 60 to 70 seats in their kitty.
Though Congress leaders say for the record that they will win over 70 percent seats, ie around 100 of the total 150, they actually expect to win around 70. With the help of ex offficio members who have the voting right, the Congress leaders hope to `manage’ the mayoral election.
The TDP too is perplexed over the low turnout and blamed the Congress and MIM for it. As usual, its leaders alleged that the government failed to conduct a free and fair election. But, a TDP city leader told Express that they were expecting to win from 60 to 65 divisions.
Though the low turnout was a cause of concern, the TDP is expecting to romp home from 20 to 25 divisions of the erstwhile MCH and from more than 40 divisions in the nine municipalities which were merged with MCH for formation of Greater Hyderabad.
``If we get 60 seats, the party may consider taking the support of MIM on the condition that the MIM should support the TDP mayoral candidate,’’ a TDP leader said. He, however, added that TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu would take a final decision after the results were announced.
It is believed that settlers, who are in large numbers in the city, were enjoying holidays and many were away to their native places. The non-voting by settlers might spoil the prospects of TDP and aid the Congress, a Congress leader said. The presence of PRP and LSP in the fray too would help the Congress, according to analysts.
A TDP leader admitted that around 190 families (Andhra and Rayalaseema) in a division in LB Nagar went to their native places. ``We have conducted a survey and found that the holiday, declared by the State Government to enable residents to participate in the election, was actually used by settlers for holidaying or visiting their native places,’’ a TDP leader said.
As the turnout was low, almost all the parties fear that the fate of their candidates would hinge on the margin of a mere 50 to 200 votes in most of the divisions.
The final result is unpredictable if the winning or losing a seat depends on a very slender margin, several leaders admit.
