GHMC Council Members Rues About Losing Strongholds
Corporators across parties raise objections, suggestions without usual heated exchanges
Hyderabad: For the first time in the history of GHMC council, members on Tuesday did not resort to an angry exchange of words, not got into arguments, nor played to the gallery.
During a special meeting convened to discuss the delimitation of divisions, the people’s representatives, cutting across party lines, raised objections to the draft ward delimitation notification and gave suggestions.
Though admitting that there was anguish in the Congress about the delimitation proposal, Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender supported the party. He opposed BRS Sanathnagar MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav, stating that previously also the delimitation was also done without any consultation. “A GO was released and handed over to the stakeholders,” Nagender said.
AIMIM Malakpet MLA Ahmed bin Abdullah Balala said that the delimitation had been done to damage his party. AIMIM Akbarbagh corporator Syed Minhajuddin questioned the very purpose of the council meeting when the deadline for giving suggestions on delimitation had ended on December 15.
BJP corporators, who protested against the delimitation proposals, alleged that it was part of the government’s design to benefit the ruling Congress and the AIMIM.
All of them complained of losing their strongholds after the new wards were notified. They also complained of increased property tax burden on people.
BJP’s Mansoorabad corporators Koppula Narsimha Reddy, the party’s GHMC deputy floor leader, said that the property tax in LB Nagar was more than in Banjara Hills. Sithaphalmandi corporator Hema Samala said that a part of the division which she developed by roping in additional funds was now no longer a part of it.
Medchal BRS MLA Chamakura Malla Reddy, in his distinctive way of speaking, brought a smile to the faces of everyone. “My Medchal constituency was number one; it had 6.8 lakh voters. Now they have damned it (satyanash) to have just 16 corporators,” he said.
Towards the end of the meeting, the situation in the council turned ugly when BJP corporators tore the gazette notification on delimitation of wards.
The Mayor adjourned the meeting abruptly. However, the BJP corporators staged a protest at the GHMC head office and accused the government of favouring the AIMIM.
