HYDERABAD: The process for appointing the next mayor of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will begin soon as the two-year term of Banda Karthika Reddy ends in the first week of December.As per the agreement between the Congress and the Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), the coveted post would be held by the former for the first two years and for the next two years by the latter.The fifth and final year's candidate will be decided later.Karthika Reddy has been going all-out to get an extension, by attending meetings and seeking to please Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.But the mayor's efforts are likely to prove futile since she faces stiff opposition from within her own party.Of the 55 Congress corporators, almost 45 are dead against giving her an extension.Besides, local ministers too are averse to see her continue in the mayoral post.They see her as a mere "rubber stamp" who works at the behest of a "shadow mayor." Even otherwise, the Congress is in no position to violate the pact with the MIM as it needs the party's support in the Assembly.The MIM, alliance partner of the Congress, is already extending its support from outside.PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana has already made it clear that party would abide by the agreement with the MIM.The MIM, on the other hand, has begun ground work for the selection of its mayoral candidate.Deputy Mayor Jaffer Hussain and former mayor and Hussainialam division corporator Zulfikar Ali are in the race.
Comments
0 comment