Race for Leadership Begins in Gated Communities Ahead of GHMC Polls

Hyderabad: A few resident welfare associations (RWAs) in Hyderabad have become active ahead of municipal elections, expecting money, freebies and better access to elected representatives.

The term of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will end on February 10, 2026. Though the government has not indicated any election schedule yet, people anticipate local elections soon.

In some gated communities and colonies, committee members and their past challengers have stepped up their community outreach by organising lunches and cocktail parties.

With an eye on representing the community ahead of municipal elections, some members are trying to unseat the existing panel by implicating them in financial misappropriation. They are holding meetings on Sunday mornings, questioning the usage of society funds.

“Furnish the spending on Ganesh Chaturthi, and how much is being paid for maintenance?” are some questions being raised at the Sunday meetings and WhatsApp groups.

During the elections, cash, liquor, silk saris and silver coins were distributed at the gate communities which acquired an impressive bargaining power. They also request election candidates to get their compound walks painted, install illumination among other facilities ahead of the election.

According to a resident from a gated community, the ones who are diplomatic and maintain good rapport get into trouble as they can’t take sides amid the confrontation between two panels.

Another resident said the mismanagement of community funds comes out only a couple of months before the polls. “I enjoy the Sunday audits by colony members and WhatsApp debates by the present and former committees,” she said.