Exit Polls Predict TRS Victory in GHMC Elections

Hyderabad: An exit poll conducted by news channel Studio N predicted a clear victory for the ruling TRS with 63 seats in the just concluded Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections.Its friendly AIMIM will get 33 while TDP-BJP combine will manage to win 25 and Congress will scrape through with just five seats. There will be a tug-of-war kind of situation in 22 divisions and two independents are also likely to win. The counting of votes will be done on February 5.

The poll was conducted in 18 circles covering all the 150 divisions in the city on Tuesday at polling stations. Even if the ruling party was able to win 63 seats, it will emerge the single largest party as the prospects for other parties are much below its probable tally.

The magic figure for winning the mayor post is 108 which includes elected corporators and ex-officio members. Obviously, the ruling TRS has more number of ex-officio members than others. They include MPs, MLAs and MLCs of the constituencies falling under the Greater Hyderabad limits.  

On the other hand, Deccan Chronicle has reported that the TRS is set for a big win in the first GHMC elections after the formation of Telangana state.

Citing intelligence sources, the report said TRS is likely to get between 80 to 85 seats, MIM 35-40, the TD-BJP combine 20 and Congress 6 to 7 in the 150-member body.

If this prediction comes true, TRS can easily bag the mayor’s seat without the support of the MIM. TRS has 34 of the 64 ex-officio members in the form of legislators. The magic figure to bag the mayor’s seat (both elected corporators and ex-officio members) is 108.

As per the exit polls, while the MIM will retain its stronghold, the Old City, reports indicate TRS did make some inroads while the Congress created a scare in the MIM bastion.

The attack on the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Mohd. Mahmood Ali and other incidents of violence are considered to be the fallout of this change.

According to an exit poll by News Poll, TRS will bag 78-82 seats, MIM 35-40, TD-BJP 28-34, Congress 8-10 and others 1-3.

Another exit poll, by AARAA, gave TRS 81-85 seats, MIM 32-37, TD-BJP 25-30, Congress 3-7 and others 0-3. It gave TRS 42.13 percent vote share, TD-BJP 27.55 percent, Congress 7.53 percent, MIM 14.77 percent and others 7.99 percent.

Various TV channels also made similar predictions.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao who monitored the polling since Tuesday morning, was quite pleased after hearing the exit poll results, it is learnt.

Panchayat Raj minister K.T. Rama Rao quoting the various exit polls, said TRS would win by a bumper majority. He said that victory margin would have been more if the polling percentage had been higher.

“Exit polls confirmed TRS victory,” KTR said, thanking officials, party leaders and workers for ensuring free and fair polls.

“Booking of cases against some TRS activists indicated fair polls, transparency and no misuse of official machinery,” he said, adding that polling was by and large peaceful barring clashes between TRS-MIM workers and Congress and MIM workers in the Old City.