TRS, Cong candidates file nominations for Hyd civic polls

Candidates of ruling TRS, opposition Congress and other parties today filed nominations in large numbers for the February 2 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls.
Tomorrow is the last day for filing nominations and scrutiny of papers would take place on January 18.
January 21 is the last date for withdrawal of nominations.
TRS, Congress and other parties have released the lists of candidates for the GHMC elections.
Polling would be held on February 2 from 7 AM to 5 PM while the counting of votes will be taken up on February 5.
There are 150 wards in GHMC and as many as 24 Assembly segments in Telangana come under the GHMC limits.

Congress and MIM held the GHMC in alliance in 2009.

Telangana IT and Panchayat Raj Minister K T Rama Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, and other ministers have been campaigning for the polls.
TRS has taken a lead over its rivals with hoardings highlighting the state government's schemes and programmes installed across the city.
Though TRS has established a firm hold on Telangana politics, it has not been known to be a major force in Hyderabad, which has a population of over 60 lakh.
TRS had not contested the last GHMC polls in 2009.
Rama Rao also sought to reach out to the natives of Seemandhra region in Hyderabad amid allegations by the opposition that the TRS insulted and intimidated them in the past.

The GHMC elections assumes significance in view of the nature and size of the city.
The TDP-BJP alliance, which had won 15 assembly seats in the last Assembly elections, is keen on repeating its good show in the polls.
For TDP, though some of its MLAs have since shifted loyalty to the ruling TRS, the Chandrababu Naidu-led party is determined to prove that it is still a major force to reckon with in Hyderabad.
Leaving no stone unturned, BJP got its senior leaders, including Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Radha Mohan Singh, JP Nadda, Hansraj Ahir and Bandaru Dattatreya campaign for the party during the last fortnight.

TDP President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and other TDP-BJP leaders had addressed a public meeting here in support of the alliance.