Hyderabad: Residents of several colonies have come up with their own strategies to elect their representatives in the GHMC polls.
The United Federation of RWAs (U-FERWAS) has introduced a Kaun Banega Corporator (www.kaunbanegacorporator.com) campaign, while voters of Malkajgiri, numbering 54,000, “do not want a political face but would support one from among their own ranks as an independent candidate.”
Lanes and bylanes of GHMC wards are set to turn more vibrant once the nominations process is through.
Major Shiva Kiran, vice-president of U-FERWAS explained, “Our main objective is to provide an online forum for citizens to understand the GHMC elections with ward info and contestant details. Our initiative includes three phases.
The first is obtaining a feedback from citizens with a rating system. It would rate various wards for past performance, and this would continue till January 17.
Citizens across wards can use a map to navigate to their respective areas and rate the performance of the past party/corporator.
The second initiative is to give a list of the contestants with details, so that citizens are aware as to who the contesting individuals are. It would provide an option of voting for a party/candidate.
There can be only one vote from one IP address. This will start from January 18, the date of finalisation of candidates, and continue till the date of the elections.
The third phase would begin after counting, which will show the name of the elected corporator with details. It would continue to serve the people as a forum for redressal of grievances for a particular ward.
The site will be linked to FB/twitter and other social media formats. Over 2000 RWAs registered with the GHMC.
Meanwhile, residents of Malkajgiri have their own line of attack. P.L. Vishweshwar Rao, former dean of Osmania University and member of the forum, said, “We would back an independent candidate not affiliated to any political party. He or she would be one among the members of the RWA, well-qualified with a background of civil service and clean public life. The person need not spend a rupee for the campaigning. The welfare association will back the candidate.”
Daughters-in-law of politicos in ghmc battle
With 50 per cent of the divisions reserved for women in the GHMC elections, not just wives but Ghar ki Bahu daughters-in-law (DILs) of senior politicians are also entering the fray with considerable ease to win the polls.
Malkajgiri TRS MLA C. Kanaka Reddy is backing his elder daughter-in-law, while daughter-in-law of former Congress MLA J. Venkatesham from Bansil Lalpet is being “trained” to face the elections.
Aspiring candidate for Ward 134 Alwal, Vijay Shanthi, who is Malkajgiri MLA’s DIL and a B.Sc graduate, explained, “Earlier, the ward was reserved under general category and my husband Srinivas Reddy was all set to file nominations this time. However, it is now reserved for women under general category. My manifesto promises include tap water connection to every house and 2 BHK for the poor. I helped my father-in-law in campaigning during the 2014 state elections. It helped me know of the people’s issues.”
Another DIL in the fray is J. Chayya for Ward 137 Bansilalpet. She is the daughter-in-law of former municipal councilor from the Congress, J. Vekatesham.
Earlier, the ward was reserved for SC general and the former MLA’s son Dev Anand won under the banner of the Congress party.
However, post revision, the MLA’s DIL, Chayya, is in the fray.
Daughters are in fray too. Keshav Rao, a Rajya Sabha member and close aide to Chief Minister, is fielding his daughter Gadwala Vijaya Lakshmi.
