GHMC polls 2020: Campaign hots up in Old City

GHMC polls 2020 Charminar: With just six days left for the GHMC polls, candidates are trying their best to convince voters that they are the best bet. But the situation in Old City, the southern part of Hyderabad, remains different, as no other party, except MIM, is seen canvassing in streets.

Various parties, including TRS, BJP and Congress, are contesting in 150 divisions, but their presence in the form of rallies or 'padayatras' ('paidal dauras') in most of localities is bare minimum.

In this part of the city, which accounts for 30 seats, there appears to be no challenge to MIM, on the streets, for now. But, the BJP has different plans; it has already launched campaign blitz on the social media, influencing youth.

After the TRS announcement, that it would not ally with the MIM and contest all divisions with strong candidates, gave an impression that it would give a tough fight. On the other hand, 'confident' BJP, with fresh win in the Dubbaka by-election, is hoping to give a tough fight to MIM in some divisions. But even its flags remain visible in fewer localities of 'purana shehar'.

In 2016, AIMIM won majority of seats in the Old City while BJP bagged only three. But this year the saffron party has decided to make strides even in the MIM stronghold and break open the fortress of the city-based party. On ground, it appears to prefer a strong social media campaign, as it did in the general/Assembly elections.

On Monday, campaigning by the BJP for the ensuing GHMC elections, the party's IT cell in Hyderabad took to Twitter to trend #Change Hyderabad and #Bhagyanagaram, where thousands tweeted. "Laughable that Owaisi brothers are speaking of development. They haven't allowed development in old Hyderabad, the only thing they allowed is Rohingya Muslims. Every single vote to Owaisi is a vote against India and everything that India stands for," said Tejasvi Surya, president of BJP Yuva Morcha and MP from Bengaluru South. Each of such tweets are being re-tweeted

According to observers, all candidates of Majlis party, along with MLAs, are taking part in the poll campaign in Old City, but no other party candidate has been seen on roads. Even if they are canvassing, they lack public gatherings, as the MIMs does. Barring the MIM nominees, people are unaware of other party candidates who are contesting the election.

Most TRS candidates also seem to keep the campaign on a low key, particularly in the Old City pockets. Only an auto with a speaker is seen moving on roads, as campaign vehicle. Minister KTR is conducting grand roadshows in the other parts of the City. Let alone ministers, no senior party leader is found canvassing for the party candidates.