Mayoral poll: Battle for control of Karimnagar and Nizamabad municipal corporations poised for a nail-biting finish

The fractured verdict in Karimnagar and Nizamabad municipal corporations has the ruling Congress and the BJP making all efforts to win over the independent councillors.

The battle for control of the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation (MCK) is poised for a nail-biting finish. Claims and counterclaims are flying thick and fast between the BJP and the Congress party over winning the Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts in the indirect elections slated to be held on Monday (February 16).

Though the BJP had won the highest number of 30 of the total 66 divisions, it is still short of the required numerical strength to win the Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts in the MCK.

The ruling Congress party, the main Opposition BRS and the AIMIM had won 14, 9 and 3 divisions respectively with the remaining 10 divisions going to the independent candidates.

With the main political parties lacking the requisite majority to clinch the mayoral posts, all eyes are now on the independent candidates whose support has become crucial to capture MCK. The votes of ex-officio members are going to play a key role in determining the mayoral election outcome.

The local BJP leaders have claimed that four independent candidates have already pledged their support to the party and a few more are ready to cast their votes in favour of BJP in the mayoral elections. They exuded confidence that the BJP is poised to win the mayoral election with the support of independent candidates citing that Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay will also vote as an ex-officio member.

The race for the MCK mayor post took an interesting turn with the Congress leaders staking claim to wrest the MCK. Sources in the Congress party claimed that five newly elected corporators, including three independents and two AIFB candidates, joined the Congress party in Hyderabad on Sunday (February 15). They further claimed the support of the three AIMIM newly elected corporators and several others for the ruling party.

A similar situation prevails in Nizamabad, where the fractured verdict has left the election for the mayor post into a fierce contest.

Despite emerging as the single largest party by winning 28 of the total 60 divisions in Nizamabad Municipal Corporation, the BJP is facing a tough task to reach the magic figure of 31 in the mayoral elections to be held on Monday. Having won 17 divisions, the Congress party is banking on the support of AIMIM, which had won 14 divisions. The BRS had won a single division, who has apparenty decided to join the Congress.