Hyderabad: Opposition unity on test in civic polls

Hyderabad: Moderate to heavy polling was reported in the three civic bodies Warangal, Khammam and Atchampet where elections were held on Sunday. Counting of votes will be taken up on March 9.

According to latest reports, the 50 divisions in the of Khammam Municipal Corporation recorded around 70 per cent voting, and it was 60 per cent in the Warangal Municipal Corporation. At the Atchampet Nagar Panchayat polling was about 70 per cent.

TRS leaders expressed the confidence that they would sweep the elections. A unique feature of this election was the Opposition unity. At Atchampet, Opposition parties have formed an alliance to take on the TRS. In Khammam, the Congress has tied up with the CPI and has struck a secret understanding with the Telugu Desam in a few divisions.

There is no such understanding in Warangal, but the presence of TRS rebels at many places made the election interesting.

This election also saw the BJP and the TD fight each other in Warangal and Kham-mam, threatening their alla-ince elsewhere.

The outcome of the elections at Atchampet and Khammam could determine if Opposition unity is here to stay. The TD and the Congress may have to consider their political relations once the poll results are out on March 9. Depending on the outcome, the TRS may effect changes in its election strategy.

In Khammam, the Opposition together and separately campaigned against minister Tummala Nageswara Rao who after joining the TRS from the TD has credited himself with bagging an MLC seat, defeating CPI veteran Puvvada Nageswara Rao.

When contacted, Mr Nageswara Rao said the TRS would bag at least 35 of 50 divisions in Khammam. Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari said the TRS would bag at least 50 seats out of 58 in Warangal.