Nabila Mulla | India Tomorrow
HYDERABAD—Contesting elections for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has become tough for women candidates in particular as a prominent social and political activist Dr. Lubna Sarwath has alleged that she was threatened by workers belonging to All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) when she was campaigning door-to-door in Asif Nagar ward. She has also circulated videos of some people threatening her and asking her to leave. She had earlier contested Lok Sabha elections from Hyderabad seat in 2017 against AIMIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi. She is this time contesting GHMC polls from Asif Nagar ward as an Independent candidate.
Polling for HGMC will be held tomorrow(December 1).
Speaking to India Tomorrow, she said that Majlis workers were following her wherever she went for canvassing support for her herself. She complained about it to the police and an FIR has been registered in this connection. She has also complaint about it to AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, no action has been taken against those who prevented her from election campaigning.
Alleging that there were huge discrepancies in the voter list of Asif Nagar ward, she has complained the State election and also moved the High Court seeking postponement of polls for Asif Nagar ward and hold polls only after a correct list of voters was prepared.
She said that she chose Asif Nagar ward to contest polls because “it is my own ward and I am aware of the issues”. Besides, the area is inhabited by poor people with high illiteracy rate. School drop out rate here is very high due to poverty and other reason. The entre area is thickly populated with no proper civic facilities. Garbage and sewage water rule the roost here in this ward.
“If I am elected, I want to raise literacy rate to 100 per cent and reduce pollution of the area”, she said.
Dr. Lubna has been very active in protecting and preserving the city’s water bodies under the banner of SOUL (Save Our Urban Lakes).
During Ramadan last year, Dr. Lubna Sarwath had dragged state Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao to High Court over extravagant expenses in the name of Iftar parties. She argued that the politicians misuse the funds allotted for poor ‘Rozedars’.
In the high-pitched battle of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has given tickets to two new women candidates, Farhana Begum and Rekha, both belonging to lower middle-class families.
TDP leader and former MLA Katragadda Prasuna says that the party wants to promote people coming from underprivileged background and have been working for the welfare of the people in their localities.
Contesting from Begumpet ward, is Farhana. She entered elections hoping to develop her locality. She says, “There is a lot of problem in my locality. We are deprived of basic amenities. Though we had earlier approached the authorities, they have never come forward to develop our ward. This forced me to fight for the development of our ward.”
As her ward does not have graveyards, Farhana says, “My brother has been fighting for a graveyard in our locality for years. In case of someone’s death, we have to keep their body for two days, taking it to other areas with police permission”.
Coming from a lower middle-class family, Farhana says, “My husband is a cab driver and my brother is an autorikshaw driver, doing social service for many years.
“This has been a long-drawn struggle. Now that I am contesting the elections, the people in my area are supporting me. I hope to win and work hard for the development,” Farhana says.
Rekha, another female candidate of TDP, also hopes to work for the welfare of the people. Sharing her views on elections, she says, “The rich fight and win elections for their own benefit. They don’t care to serve the poor or needy.”
Contesting from Ramgopalpet ward, Rekha says, “Despite staying in the heart of the city, we have sewage overflow in front of our house most of the time. We have been fighting for several issues but never got any proper development.”
Rekha, who irons clothes for a living, says that she is glad for the opportunity TDP has given her. She hopes to win the elections and serve the needy.
There are a total of 5 parliamentary constituencies, 24 assembly constituencies and 150 municipal wards within the limits of the GHMC.
Party positions in GHMC elections in 2016:
| PARTY | SEATS |
| TRS | 99 |
| AIMIM | 44 |
| BJP | 4 |
| TDP | 2 |
| INC | 1 |
Party positions during GHMC elections in 2009:
| PARTY | SEATS |
| INC | 52 |
| TDP | 45 |
| AIMIM | 43 |
| Others | 6 |
| BJP | 4 |
In the current 2020 GHMC elections, ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has fielded 16 Muslim candidates in 150 wards and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielded one Muslim candidate.
On the other hand, 5 out of 51 candidates of Majlis-e-Ittehaadul Muslimeen (MIM) are Non-Muslims.
*Nabilaa Mulla is a freelance journalist based in Hyderabad, She can be contacted [email protected]
