GHMC polls: Candidates shying away from poll expenditure

Hyderabad: Candidates are shying away from submitting their GHMC poll expenditure details. Though 1,333 candidates are in the fray, not even 600 have furnished their expenditure details. For the first time, candidates have been asked to furnish expenditure details once in three days.

From Rs 2 lakh, the state EC has raised the election expenditure limit to '5 lakh per candidate in GHMC elections. However, there are no limits on what a political party can spend for campaigning in the polls.

A rate card has been prescribed for calculating expenditure. For hiring a four-wheeler, a rate of '1,200 per day, for hotel room Rs 3,000 to Rs 9,000 per day depending on the category of the hotel, Rs 20 per sq. ft for a plastic flag, Rs 7,200 a day for construction of a podium or pandal, Rs 1,400 for an 8-feet cutout and Rs 1,800 for a 10-feet cutout etc.

Even for food items, a rate card has been prescribed. The price of a samosa has been fixed at Rs 10 each, tea /coffee Rs 12, idli (two pieces) Rs15 and egg biryani (750 grams) Rs 120 etc.

Officials have issued notices to 590 candidates for failing to give details. Most of the candidates who have failed to submit details are from Old City, LB Nagar, Secunderabad, Kukatpally, Kapra and Khairatabad.

108 seats needed to bag Mayor post
Parties need the magic number of 108 to bag the mayor and deputy mayor’s seat.

The TRS has given its MLAs, ministers and MPs living in Hyderabad the right to vote in the poll to elect the mayor. Even if the TRS bags 50 seats, it could make up the numbers with ex-officio members.

As per the GHMC Election wing, 64 ex- officio members have the right to vote.  All 150 corporators and ex-officio members will elect the mayor and deputy mayor on February 11.

TRS MPs, MLAs and ministers living in the city have all applied for voting rights and the party is thus confident of bagging the mayor's seat. Even if it secures less than 70 seats, TRS can make up with its ex-officio votes.

At present, there are 25 MLAs including one nominated member in the GHMC limits and all of them will vote on February 11. Apart from MLAs, five Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members each, who have been elected from GHMC limits, are eligible to vote.

About 29 MLCs have also been given the right to vote. With 64 ex-officio members, the cumulative  representatives will be 214 including 150 corporators. The parties need 50 per cent votes to elect the mayor and deputy mayor.