TRS Govt hijacked GHMC election process: Congress

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has accused the TRS Government of hijacking the entire elections for Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here on Wednesday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the TRS Government has been trying hard to deny opposition parties their right to approach the GHMC voters. He said all set norms and guidelines to conduct the polls were being openly violated. He said there was still no clarity on over six lakh deleted voters. The State Government is yet to publish the list of reserved wards. He said all political parties at least 10 days time to review the list of reserved wards to file their suggestions and complaints.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the entire election process could not be completed in just 15 days. He said it was not possible for all political parties to call for applications, scrutinise and finalise the candidates for 150 wards. He alleged that the TRS and MIM have already got the list of reserved wards and they have already finalised their candidates. However, by reducing the period of election process, they were trying to take advantage of opposition parties' unpreparedness.

The TPCC chief said that election laws could not be amended through GOs. He said that the recent amendment done in GHMC Act by the State Government was illegal.

Meanwhile, Uttam Kumar Reddy also wrote a letter to GHMC Commissioner & Special Officer Dr. B. Janardhan Reddy accusing him of violating High Court orders on restrictions on political flexis and hoardings. "You have turned a blind eye towards the TRS party's election propaganda material put up on metro rail pillars. I wish to request you and your officers/staff to kindly conduct the GHMC elections in a fair manner and provide a level playing field for all political parties. The Indian National Congress party protests against the undemocratic and partial manner in which you are conducting the GHMC elections," he said.