GHMC Election Results 2020 Live Updates: Eying Polls as Launchpad in Southern States, Counting to Decide BJP's Fate; Poor Voter Turnout Raises Hope for TRS

In the initial counting in GHMC counting, TRS is leading in 3 seats while BJP is leading in 4 seats.

Repolling at Old Malakpet Yesterday | Repolling was held in the Old Malakpet ward of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation on Thursday. The repolling was ordered after an error was detected in the ballot paper with regard to the symbol of the CPI candidate during polling on December 1. The Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) on Tuesday orderedfresh poll to be conducted on Thursday in all 69 polling stations of Old Malakpet (Ward number 26) after it was found that the symbol of CPI (M) (Hammer, sickle and star) was printed instead of CPI's symbol (Ears of Corn & Sickle) in the ballot paper. The CPI had petitioned the election authorities on the matter.

Counting for GHMC Election Begins | Counting for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections begins. Polling passed off peacefully, but repoll was ordered in ward number 26 owing to a symbol mix-up involving the two Left parties-- CPI and CPI (M), officials said. Ballot papers were used in total 150 wards of the corporation.

GHMC Election Results: Bolstered by its victory in the recent bypoll to Dubbak Assembly constituency, the BJP conducted a spirited campaign to win the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation polls to boost its chances in the 2023 Assembly polls. It has drafted its General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav, who has been its in-charge for Bihar, to supervise the poll preparations in Hyderabad.

Though the run-up to the poll saw a high pitched campaign by the parties, the turnout of the voters on December 1 was an unimpressive 46.55 per cent (34.50 lakh) out of the total 74.67 lakh voters.

Counting for GHMC Election to Begin Shortly | Counting for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections to begin shortly. The picture from LB Stadium counting centre (Credits: ANI).

Asaduddin Owaisi and his legislator brother Akbaruddin led the campaign for AIMIM. TPCC President and MP Uttam Kumar Reddy and other senior leaders campaigned for Congress candidates in the run up to the polls. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on assured that the party would make Hyderabad a global IT hub, a modern city and free from "Nizam culture" if voted to power. He also exuded confidence that Hyderabad would have a BJP Mayor after the GHMC polls and that the saffron party would form the government in Telangana after the next Assembly elections.

Polarising Campaign before GHMC Elections | The election witnessed a polarising campaign as most parties focussed on Pakistanm Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Nizam culture or changing Hyderabad's name to Bhagyanagar. 

GHMC Records Low Turnout in Local Polls | The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation election saw a low turnout of just 46.55 per cent out of 74.44 lakh voters, despite several messages from the Telangana government, State Election Commission and celebrites, urging people to exercise their franchise. Polling for the 150-wards in GHMC were held on December 1 and counting will be taken up on Friday. The Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) ordered a repoll in all 69 polling stations of ward number 26 after it was found that the CPI(M) symbol was printed in the ballot paper instead of CPI. An official report said RC Puram witnessed the highest polling, recording 67.71 per cent and Yousufguda the lowest at 32.99 per cent.

GHMC Election Results: The TRS has deployed several state Ministers and legislators for canvassing in the city. The Congress's poll battle was led by its state president N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Working President A Revanth Reddy (both MPs) and other senior leaders. The TDP, once a major force in the state, sought to revive its fortunes highlighting the development witnessed in the city, including in the IT sector, during N Chandrababu Naidu's regime as Chief Minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh. The TRS and BJP leaders were engaged in a war of words.

The BJP highlighted the TRS's "alliance" with the AIMIM and sought votes to provide clean and transparent administration in the city. The TRS, however, denied any alliance with the AIMIM. The TRS's campaign was led by its working president and state Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao, while party supremo and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao addressed a public meeting.

Amit Shah, Nadda, Yogi Adityanath Among Campaigners | Top leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president JP Nadda, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar, Smriti Irani and MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy, who is Lok Sabha member from Secunderabad, party MP and BJYM national president Tejasvi Surya participated in the campaign. The BJP highlighted the TRS's "alliance" with the AIMIM and sought votes to provide clean and transparent administration in the city.

GHMC Election Results: Bolstered by its victory in the recent bypoll to Dubbak Assembly constituency, the BJP conducted a spirited campaign to win the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation polls to boost its chances in the 2023 Assembly polls. It has drafted its General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav, who has been its in-charge for Bihar, to supervise the poll preparations in Hyderabad.

Counting Process to be Recorded in CCTV Cameras | The entire counting process would be recorded with CCTV cameras installed at every counting table, they said. Ballot papers were used for the poll and consequently, the results are likely to be known only in the evening or in the night. The Telangana State Election Commission had decided to conduct the election with ballot papers after obtaining the views of major political parties, health department in view of Covid-19 and taking into consideration various relevant issues, the SEC said earlier. The lead up to the polling witnessed a vociferous campaign by the parties.

Counting of Votes in Hyderabad Today | The counting of votes in the high-stakes Hyderabad civic poll would be taken today. Though the run-up to the poll saw a high pitched campaign by the parties, the turnout of the voters on December 1 was an unimpressive 46.55 per cent (34.50 lakh) out of the total 74.67 lakh voters. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the counting process which would begin at 8 AM on Friday. Counting centres have been set up at 30 places and the total number of personnel engaged in counting is 8,152, official sources said on Thursday.