GHMC Elections: BJP has highest no of candidates with cases, TRS follows

Hyderabad: An Independent analysis done by a Hyderabad based NGO Forum for Good Governance revealed that, The BJP has the highest number of contesting candidates with criminal antecedents (17), followed by the ruling TRS party (13).

While the Congress who is struggling to play the role of a prime opposition in Telangana has 13 candidates with criminal history. Whereas, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi led AIMIM has given tickets to 7 persons booked for crime. The city is witnessing its second municipal elections after the formation of Telangana, the polls are scheduled to be held on December 1st. A total of 1122 candidates are in the fray.

The team at Forum for Good Governance studied the affidavits of contesting candidates representing four political parties, namely BJP, TRS, Congress and AIMIM. The analysis revealed that, 49 candidates in the fray from these four parties are facing criminal cases. Of which 6 are female while 41 are male contestants which includes deputy Mayor Baba Fasiuddin who is contesting from Borabanda ward.

In R K Puram division, both female candidates, that is P Nirmala from Congress and V Radha from BJP have one case, each. Out of the 6, three women aspirants from the TRS party are facing charges, namely Sunitha Reddy from Mettaguda , Aruna from Ramgopalpet and Akula Rupa from Monda Market division.

It is interesting to note that, in 140 Malkajgiri ward all the contesting candidates from main parties are facing cases. That is V Sravan from BJP, Jagadeshwar Goud from TRS and G Srinivas Goud from Congress.

To recall, during the 2016 GHMC elections, political parties gave tickets to 72 candidates having cases. However this election it reduced to 49. "It is a good sign of decriminalization of politics' said M Padmanabha Reddy, Secretary – Forum for Good Governance. The former IFS officer has appealed to voters to elect a candidate with a clean history.

Total number of candidates having criminal record:

1. BJP- 17 ( 11% of the total candidates)

2. TRS- 13 (9%)

3. INC- 12 (8%)

4. AIMIM- 07 (14 %)

5. Total number of candidates having criminal record – 49

6. Total cases – 96