News courtesy- Deccan Chronicle

Hyderabad
Nov. 11: Battle lines have finally been drawn and the first election to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will see a multi-cornered contest in as many as 144 of the total 150 wards that go to polls on November 23.
Political experts feel the multi-cornered contest will work to the benefit of the Congress as the votes split among PRP, Lok Satta, BJP, CPI, CPM and candidates of other parties will actually cut the vote bank of the Telugu Desam, as was the case in the General and Assembly elections held earlier this year.
In all, 1,310 candidates are in fray as per the final list of contesting candidates released by the election authorities on Wednesday. Of the total, Congress has 150, TD 141, BJP 137, Lok Satta 126, MIM 70, PRP 64, CPM 35, and CPI 13. Other registered parties have 34 candidates in fray along with 540 independents.
It may be mentioned that TRS candidates are contesting this election as independents as the party has not given B-forms following its decision not to officially contest the GHMC polls. There was no official nomination from the BSP either.
Meanwhile, postal ballot papers for employees drafted on poll duty are being dispatched. The postal ballot will have to reach the election authorities before the counting of votes commences on November 26.
Over 40,000 employees drawn from the state and the Central government departments and its undertakings have been drafted for the GHMC poll duty. In addition to this, over 20,000 police personnel, including para military forces, will be on election duty.