Hyderabad: The BJP has surprised many by deciding to contest the MLC (Member of Legislative Council) election for the Hyderabad Local Authorities Constituency. The party has announced Gautham Rao as its candidate. On the last day of nominations, AIMIM’s Mirza Riyaz Ul Hasan also filed his papers. Congress and the BRS have chosen not to take part in this election, leaving the fight between BJP and AIMIM.
There are 116 registered voters for this election. These include 81 GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) corporators and 35 ex-officio members. Ex-officio members include 15 MLAs, MPs from Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Rajya Sabha members, and other MLCs who have voting rights in the city. To win, a candidate needs at least 59 votes.
AIMIM has strong support with 49 votes. This includes 40 corporators, 7 MLAs, 1 MP, and 1 MLC. The Congress has 13 votes, and they have already promised to support AIMIM’s candidate. This gives AIMIM a total of 62 votes, which is more than half the total and enough to win.
Even though the BJP doesn’t have enough votes to win on its own, party leaders say they are contesting to show their presence and strength in the Hyderabad area. BJP and BRS together have 54 votes, but BRS is not contesting this time.
Recently, BJP won two MLC seats in Karimnagar and Warangal by defeating Congress candidates. BRS had also stayed out of those elections. This has led to speculation that BRS may be secretly supporting BJP again.
Sources say the BJP is hoping for some cross-voting in its favor to boost its chances. This election could be an important test for BJP against the ruling Congress and its ally AIMIM in Hyderabad.
