`Friend in need is a friend indeed': AIMIM supports TRS in Mayoral election

Hyderabad: Leaving behind poll bitterness, Asaduddin Owaisi led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen came to the rescue of his friend and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao when he supported the TRS mayoral candidate Gadwal Vijayalaxmi and her deputy M Srilatha.

On the day of the election, 44 AIMIM corporators in a usual tradition were invited to `Darussalam' headquarters. They were briefed by senior party leaders including Chandrayangutta MLA and second in command Akbaruddin Owaisi.

GHMC has 150 wards and the oath-taking ceremony of the 149 corporators (One elected ward member of BJP passed away due to COVID) was held at about 11.30 AM on Thursday. In a short break before the mayoral election, there was a spree of discussions between the AIMIM and TRS corporators.

Election for the post of mayor and deputy mayor was held by the 'show of hands. Former Deputy Mayor Baba Fasiuddin from the TRS proposed the name of Banjara hills corporator Gadwal Vijayalaxmi. While the BJP party proposed the name of Radha Dheeraj Reddy. Two Congress corporators finding no chance stayed away from the elections.

TRS and AIMIM candidates raised their hands when the election office asked how many support the candidature of Gadwal Vijayalaxmi. The BJP was quick to express dissent with chants of `Shame Shame'.

Amid slogans of Jai Sri Ram and Jai KCR, Gadwal Vijayalaxmi was elected Hyderabad's first Woman Mayor in Telangana. It was a smooth ride for the deputy mayor Mothe Srilatha Reddy who was elected with a huge majority.

It is interesting to note, that the ruling TRS and its ally AIMIM contested the GHMC polls separately. However, the AIMIM again turned out to be an ally of TRS by extending support to TRS mayoral candidate Vijayalaxmi in the elections. BJP which expected a miracle failed to garner the required support.

Dark deal between the TRS and AIMIM : BJP

"Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Asaduddin Owaisi ties are exposed again. KCR, who had denied BJP's allegations of a secret pact between TRS and MIM during the last GHMC polls, today resorted to get political power with the support of the Majlis in the mayoral election. This is the culmination of KCR opportunist politics," said Bandi Sanjay Kumar, President, Telangana BJP.

BJP State President and Parliamentarian Bandi Sanjay also alleged that the CM has dramatized that he has no alliance though both the party and took advantage of the GHMC elections. " KCR fielded candidates in the old town to benefit AIMIM. Our allegations have now come true that the TRS has no intention of winning there if it avoids the malice of breaking up the Hindu vote bank. TRS would not have won even single-digit seats without an alliance between the two parties," said the BJP.

The saffron party president also added that doing the right politics requires an open alliance. KCR and Minister K.T.Rama Rao are leaders who have no credibility at all. KTR said, "Are you kidding me to make an alliance with AIMIM?" and what we can say about their alliance now.