GHMC polls: TRS wins Neredmet ward; tally goes up to 56

  Telangana Rashtra Samithi on Wednesday won a ward whose result was withheld in recent Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections due to a legal issue, taking total number of wards won by ruling party to 56 out of total 150.

TRS minee Kothapally Meena Reddy defeated her nearest BJP rival V Prasanna Naidu in Neredmet ward, official sources said.

With fresh win, TRS tally rose to 56.

BJP made major gains in recent GHMC polls bagging 48 wards on back of a high-profile campaign by party in which top leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, participated.

AIMIM secured 44 wards, retaining its hold in old city of Hyderabad.

Congress could win only two seats.

TRS is single largest party with 56 wards.

Though counting of votes was taken up in Neredmet on December 4 along with or wards, it had to be stopped owing to legal issue over some votes being cast with a 'distinguishing mark'.

process of counting of votes was resumed on Wednesday.

declaration of ward's result had been kept in abeyance (following orders of high court) over votes cast with distinguishing mark on ballot papers, in place of arrow cross mark, provided by mistake by polling personnel, as distinguishing mark votes had a bearing on majority or declaration of result.

court later directed that such votes are treated as valid and result declared, according to a State Election Commission press release issued earlier.

(IM CREDITS:PTI)