Hyderabad, Nov 26 : Andhra Pradesh's ruling Congress party suffered a setback in Hyderabad civic polls as it failed to secure majority in the 150-member body to capture the mayor's post. The ruling party
failed to live up to its own expectations, bagging 52 seats in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) despite the fact that it had won as many as 14 out of 24 assembly seats in the GHMC limits in the April-May assembly elections. It required at least 69 seats to grab the mayor's post.

The Congress, which emerged as the single largest party, is now likely to enter into an agreement with the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) for the indirect elections to mayor and deputy mayor. MIM, which won seven assembly seats in the recent polls, put up an impressive show, winning 43 out of 70 seats it contested. The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which had won only one assembly seat in the area, made significant inroads into the Congress bastion, especially on the outskirts, to win 45 seats.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also had a poor show, winning only five seats. The Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi and the Lok Satta, floated by former bureaucrat Jayaprakash Narayan were virtually wiped out. The PRP won only one seat. Five others, including an Independent and two Congress rebel candidates, were also elected. The newly-elected corporators and 48 ex-officio members (state legislators and MPs) will elect the mayor and deputy mayor on Dec 4.