Counting of votes in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections conducted on December 1 kicked off on Friday amidst tight security. The poll, which saw fierce campaigning by the ruling TRS, BJP, and Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), saw a voter turnout of 46.55%.
The Hyderabad Mayor post is reserved for women for the next two terms.
While political parties are pretty clear about where they stand and the two major parties — Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — don't expect any serious reversal of their estimates made after polling, the latter approached the campaign with an eye on the upcoming 2023 State election, flying in top leaders like Amit Shah, J.P Nadda, Yogi Adityanath, Prakash Javadekar and Smriti Irani.
Here are the latest updates:
Result for the Neredmet division has been withheld, as the ballots with other than arrow-cross (Swastika) symbol outnumbered the majority secured. - - Swathi Vadalamudi
BJP makes big gains
With the results of 146 divisions declared, the BJP has made big gains, overtaking MIM with 46 seats. The MIM currently has 42 seats while the TRS still leads, with 56 seats. The Congress still has two seats.
Revanth Reddy blames media for Congress's poor showing
Congress MP A. Revanth Reddy alleges that the media played a role on Congress party's poor performance saying media was sold out to 'packages' highlighting the TRS and BJP.
"Media created a narrative that it was a TRS-BJP fight. But Congress has improved its vote share compared to 2016 elections. It's unfortunate that the fourth pillar has helped in murdering democracy," he said at a press conference.
Meanwhile, the results of 121 divisions have been announced. TRS leads with 46 seats, MIM has 41, BJP's seats have increased to 32 and Congress has two.
Son-in-law of former Home Minister Nayani Narsimha Reddy and sitting TRS Corporator of Ramnagar division Srinivas Reddy has lost to the BJP candidate.
BJP candidate Sarve Naresh closes in on victory from Matcha Bollarum division of Alwal circle. He is leading over TRS sitting corporator Jitendranath. TRS nominees Vijayashanti Reddy and Sabitha Kishore Goud won the other two divisions of Alwal and Venkatapuram respectively.
- Swathi Vadalamudi
Results of 100 divisions announced
In the officially declared results of the GHMC elections, for 100 divisions, TRS is leading with 42 seats, MIM has won 34 seats, the BJP has 22 seats while the Congress bagged 2 seats.
TRS candidate Satish Babu Pandala has announced he won from Fatehnagar (Ward number 118).
- Swathi Vadalamudi
Results of 83 divisions announced
In the officially declared results of the GHMC elections, for 83 divisions, MIM has won 32 seats, TRS is just behind with 31, the BJP has 18 seats while the Congress bagged 2 seats. - Swathi Vadalamudi
Results of 34 divisions announced
In the officially declared results of the GHMC elections, for 34 divisions, TRS has won 15 divisions, while MIM won 13.
BJP romped home in four seats and Congress bagged two seats.
On the whole, TRS has either won or is in lead in 68 divisions, while BJP's count stands at 37. MIM has either won or in lead in 43 divisions.
Sitting Deputy Mayor Baba Fasiuddin has won from Borabanda division. - Swathi Vadalamudi
TRS wins 11, MIM 10 and BJP and Congress one each
In the officially declared results of the GHMC elections, for 23 divisions, TRS has won 11 divisions, while MIM won 10.
BJP and Congress have won one seat each.
On the whole, TRS has either won or is in lead in 68 divisions, while BJP's count stands at 37. MIM has either won or in lead in 43 divisions.
MIM is poised to win Barkas, Riyasat nagar, Nawabsaheb Kunta, Ramnaspura, and Doodhbowli, while TRS is leading in RC Puram and Chintal.
The TRS has already begun its victory celebrations even though it is few seats short of majority. - Swathi Vadalamudi
In 148 out 150 GHMC wards, TRS leads in 69 seats, AIMIM in 45, BJP in 30, Congress in 4 wards.
In Sangareddy, TRS candidate Sindhu Aadarsh Reddy wins from Bharathi Nagar. She secured about 4000 votes more than her nearest rival Godavari Anji Reddy of BJP.
TRS is also leading in Patancheru division.
Old City
AIMIM Candidates Leading From followings wards
Dabeerpura, Ramnaspura, Doodhbowli, Kishanbagh, Nawab Sahab Kunta, Barkas, Pattergatti, Puranapool, Riyastnagar and Ahmed nag
BJP candidate is leading in Champapet - Swathi Vadalamudi
TRS candidate Pushpa Nagesh Yadav from Ramachandrapuram won with about 5,000 vote in Sangareddy district. Official announcement awaited. - R. Avadhani
Majid Hussain poised to win
MIM candidate and former Mayor Majid Hussain is said to have secured clear majority in Mehdipatnam, though the result is yet to be declared.
Speaking to reporters outside the counting centre, Mr. Majid Hussain credited his victory to the MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi vision. He said the good done by him during the last term ensured his smooth victory.
TRS candidates are close to victory in Yousufguda and Mettuguda. MIM candidate and former Mayor Majid Hussain is said to have secured clear majority in Mehdipatnam, though the result is yet to be declared. Congress is leading in A.S. Raonagar and Uppal.
BJP is said to be leading in Chaitanyapuri, Gaddiannaram, and Kothapet divisions, while TRS has gained upper hand in Saroornagar.
TRS is also leading in B.N.Reddy Nagar, and BJP in Vanasthalipuram and Hayatnagar. - Swathi Vadlamudi
TRS leads in Sangareddy
In Patancheru, Ramachandrapuram and Bharatinagar divisions of GHMC which come under Sangareddy district, the TRS candidate forged early leads. In Ramachandrapuram division, the TRS candidate was ahead of his nearest rival by 3450 votes after first round of counting. Similarly, in Bharatinagar division, TRS nominee Sindhu Aadharsh Reddy was ahead of the opposition candidates by 2000 votes at the end of first round of counting. - R. Avadhani
TRS leading in over 50 divisions
As the first round of counting for the GHMC polling progresses, the trends show TRS in the lead in majority of the divisions.
The BJP was doing well with several of its candidates locked in close fight with the TRS nominees. The Congress candidates were trailing in many divisions even as the MIM candidates were putting up a good show in their strongholds in Old City.
As per reports arriving from various DRC centres, ruling party is leading in 54-57 divisions, while BJP is leading in 21-25. MIM is leading in around 20, Congress party is leading in three divisions.
TRS is leading in all the three divisions- Patancheru, Ramachandrapuram and Bharathi Nagar- in Sangareddy district. - Swathi Vadlamudi
Early trends indicate lead for TRS
Early trends from the first round of counting shows that the ruling TRS is leading in 40 seats. Owaisi's AIMIM is at a distant second spot with 16 leads. BJP and Congress are leading in two and one seats respectively.
TRS candidates are close to victory in Yousufguda and Mettuguda constituencies. Meanwhile, AIMIM candidate and former Mayor Majid Hussain is close to victory in Mehdipatnam. In A.S. Raonagar, Congress candidate is leading.
Conclusive results are expected around evening today. - Marri Ramu
In pictures: How ballot papers are counted
Ballot papers were synonymous to elections until the late 1990s, when Electronic Voting Machines began replacing them. All major elections use Electronic Voting Machines since 2004 and ballot papers slowly slipped into history.
However, in this election, ballot papers were used. While the first-time voters were a little disappointed, it was a nostalgic experience for the elders. The voters literally give their stamp of approval to their preferred candidate, the ballot paper is folded in a certain way and dropped in the ballot box.
As per the procedure, on counting day, the ballot papers were made into bundles of 25 each, and compared with the actual number of votes polled in each polling station. The bundles of each division were then clubbed together and randomised so that no information remained about the source polling centre of each bundle.
Here is a step by step process of how ballot papers are counted.
At LB Stadium, where counting is on for six wards under Karwan Assembly segment, randomisation of ballots is in progress for the first round. The ballots will then be counted for each candidate. - Swathi Vadlamudi
Bandi Sanjay Kumar demands CM's resignation
Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar hailed the HC order on GHMC polls and demanded the SEC and Chief Minister to resign accepting moral responsibility.
He accused the government of using every trick to win the election and also sought a probe into the sudden rise in voting percentage in last hour in many polling stations - V. Geetanath
'HC judgement not have any impact in counting'
SEC sources say suspension of Dec. 3 circular by the High Court will not have any impact on the counting process.
Result could be delayed only if the number of votes polled (ballots) with other than cross-arrows (swastik) mark is higher than the majority secured by a candidate with ballots not in question. - B. Chandrashekar
What made SEC issue late night circular, asks Revanth Reddy
Congress working president and MP A. Revanth Reddy accused the SEC of undermining the dignity of the position.
He said that it is proved yet again that State Election Commissioner is dancing to the tunes of the Chief Minister. "When guidelines are very clear on Swastik stamp what made him to issue late night order," he asked. - Ravikanth Reddy
Leaders monitor counting from home
TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao is monitoring the counting process from Pragati Bhavan. All the Congress leaders, including Congress chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, are at home as well.
This comes after the State Health department urged public representatives, political leaders and party cadre, who participated in campaigning and polling to isolate themselves for a week to contain possible spread of coronavirus.
As politicians and party cadre interacted closely with people, there is a chance for the infectious disease to spread further if asymptomatic virus carriers, who did not take precautions, were part of the rallies or other events, the Health officials pointed out. - Ravikanth Reddy
HC order on ballot papers unlikely to cause delay in counting
The High Court order keeping aside the SEC circular is unlikely to impact counting, on the premise that such ballots would be too few, say officials.
Result could be delayed only if the number of votes polled (ballots) with other than cross-arrows (swastik) mark is higher than the majority secured by a candidate with ballots not in question.
The State Election Commission had earlier issued a circular validating ballot papers with tick mark or any other stamp other than Swastika. Telangana High Court ruled that such ballots should be counted separately, and added only when the secured majority is less than such votes. - Swati Vadlamudi, B. Chandrashekar
HC suspends SEC’s letter declaring ballot papers with distinguish mark as valid
Telangana High Court has suspended a circular issued by State Election Commission (SEC) declaring that ballot papers having ‘distinguish mark’ other than the instrument (arrow cross-mark rubber stamp) were also valid.
The judge directed the SEC to preserve all ballot papers having ‘distinguish mark’ other than that of the rubber stamp mark provided at the polling stations. If the number of ballot papers with ‘distinguish mark’ exceeds 100, the final result of that division should be kept pending, the order said. - Marri Ramu
Results likely by evening
The results of the keenly-fought election is likely to be known in the evening as ballot papers were used for voting.
The SEC had decided to conduct the election with ballot papers after consultation with major parties, the Health department in view of COVID-19 pandemic and keeping in view other relevant issues, it said earlier.
Feisty and kind: the first woman mayor of Hyderabad
As the city gears up to elect a female Mayor for the next 10 years, here is a look at the first one to break the glass ceiling.
Rani Kumudini Devi was the first woman mayor of Hyderabad, unanimously elected in 1962. She represented the Wanaparthi Assembly constituency from 1962 to 1972.
Ms. Devi was born in Vaddepally in Warangal district on January 23, 1911. Her father, Pingle Venkatrama Reddy, was the deputy prime minister in the Nizam’s government. She was married to J. Rajaramdev Rao of Wanaparthi and was noted for being the first woman vehicle driver, according to records available with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.
She had set up the Sivananda Rehabilitation Centre for leprosy patients. She died at the age of 98 on August 6, 2009.
Counting begins
Counting of votes for the recently conducted Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation commenced this morning.
Counting for the keenly contested election is being held in 150 centres set up in different locations across the GHMC limits. The postal ballots will be counted first and this will be followed by the regular ballot papers which are expected to be bundled into 25 ballots each.
Each counting hall will have 14 tables, each table with two counting assistants monitored by one counting supervisor. A total of 8,152 counting personnel have been deployed for the purpose, the statement informed. The whole process in each centre will be supervised by a Returning Officer and Assistant Returning Officer.
The counting process will be recorded by CCTV cameras, and will be overseen by 31 observers. A total of 14,000 votes will be counted in each round.
Ballot papers with distinguish mark valid, says SEC
The State Election Commission has issued a circular which said that ballot papers having ‘distinguish mark’ other than the instrument (arrow cross-mark rubber stamp) are also valid.
SEC C. Parthasarathy issued the letter on Thursday, a day before counting of GHMC elections began.
"During poll conducted on December 1 in some polling stations, the Polling Officer provided distinguish mark instead of arrow cross mark for marking the ballot paper to the voters to cast their vote," read the circular.
"If the intention of the voter is clear on marking to a particular candidate, the vote can be treated as valid vote to that candidate since it is a mistake of polling personnel under rule 51(h) of Conduct of Election Rules, 2005," it clarified.
Poll percentage has a few surprises
The final polling percentage of the December 1 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation election has quite a few surprises among the wards that were affected by October floods in the city.
While Chaitanyapuri, Saroornagar, R.K. Puram and Kothapet in the eastern part of Hyderabad showed voter apathy in comparison to 2016 elections, the southern parts of the city showed a higher voter turnout as compared to 2016. Both areas were affected by floods and a large number of residents received Rs. 10,000 solatium announced by the Telangana government.