Telangana GHMC Seats Doubled to 300 Amidst City Expansion
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In a significant move, the Telangana government has ordered the re-fixation of wards in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), effectively doubling its seats from 150 to 300. This decision follows the merger of 27 surrounding urban local bodies, including 20 municipalities and seven corporations, into the GHMC. The expanded corporation now covers the entire Telangana Core Urban Region (TCUR) with a vast geographical area of 2,053 sq km. The GHMC's ward reorganization framework was carried out by the Centre for Good Governance in the context of the recent merger. The expansion is in line with the provisions of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act, 1955. The move is expected to have a significant impact on the municipal corporation's governance and representation. The last GHMC elections were held in December 2020, resulting in the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) emerging as the single largest party with 56 seats, followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 48 seats, and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) with 44 seats. The BRS secured the Mayor's post with AIMIM's support. This is not the first time the GHMC's wards have been revised. The last revision took place on April 16, 2007, when the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad was expanded into the GHMC by merging 12 municipalities and eight grama panchayats surrounding the city. The number of wards increased from 100 to 150 at that time.
