The first elections to the Greater Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad, formed by merging 12 surrounding municipalities in April 2007, ended on a peaceful note and polled 42 per cent. Counting will be held on November 26.
The polling began in the 5,718 stations in the GHMC limits, the second largest urban agglomerate in area after New Delhi, in the morning on a dull note and recorded 33 per cent till 3 pm. The GHMC has a 5.7 million electorate.
The poll battle involved high political stakes for the ruling Congress as it faced the first election after the death of its charismatic leader YS Rajasekhara Reddy who had steered the party to power for the second successive term in the April general elections.
In all, 1,310 candidates were in the fray for the 150 municipal divisions. The Congress fielded candidates for all the divisions, Telugu Desam for 141, BJP 137, Lok Satta 126, Praja Rajayam Party 64, MIM 70, CPI 13 and CPM 35 candidates. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) did not contest the elections. In all, 403 women contested.
The last elections to the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) was held in 2002. The Telugu Desam, which was in power then, got a majority and its candidate was elected mayor in the direct elections held to the post.
The indirect elections for the mayor and deputy mayor will be held on December 4. Elections special officer T Krishan Babu said the officials had changed electronic voting machines at 29 centres. The newly-elected corporators and ex-officio members (state legislators and MPs) will elect the mayor.