Chaos at GHMC Council meeting: BRS, BJP corporators clash over Pahalgam terror attack

The GHMC Council witnesses intense political drama during its general body meeting, with corporators debating illegal construction, monsoon readiness, and FIRs. Clashes between parties escalate ahead of the upcoming civic polls, adding pressure on the Mayor and administration

Hyderabad: The 11th general body meeting of the GHMC Council, which lasted eight hours on Wednesday, concluded amid disruptions, heated arguments, and chaos involving corporators from the BRS, Congress, BJP, and AIMIM over various civic issues.

Amid escalating tensions, a visibly exasperated GHMC Mayor, Gadwal Vijayalakshmi, was heard shouting at corporators: “Behave yourself! Why are you pointing your finger at me? You don’t know how to behave!”

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In a notable development, Deputy Mayor Mothe Srilatha Reddy, the Tarnaka division corporator, presided over the council for the first time, acting as Mayor for half-an-hour after the lunch break.

Wednesday’s meeting could be the last general body session, with GHMC civic polls likely to be held within the next six months.

The council discussed monsoon preparedness, including desilting of nalas, removal of uprooted trees, installation of rainwater harvesting pits, and other topics such as flyover beautification, the jurisdictional responsibilities of Hyderabad Road Development Corporation Ltd (HydRa), and a scam involving birth and death certificates.

A heated exchange erupted between BRS and BJP corporators when BRS corporator Samala Hema (Sitaphalmandi) blamed the Central government’s “intelligence failure” for the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in tourist deaths. BJP corporators immediately objected and demanded an apology.

The rampant growth of unauthorised constructions across the city dominated discussions. Corporators from all parties criticized GHMC authorities for allegedly granting building permissions without ground-level verification, thereby encouraging illegal structures.
Tensions escalated further when BRS corporators raised the issue of Congress leader and Borabanda corporator Baba Fasiuddin’s alleged involvement in a suicide case. The Mayor responded that an FIR had been registered and the matter was under investigation.

Meanwhile, BRS MLA from Malkajgiri, Marri Rajasekhar Reddy — an ex-officio GHMC Council member — demanded that GHMC issue NoCs to shift utilities in areas where Road under Bridges (RuBs) are proposed. He also urged GHMC to take over community halls and make them accessible to the public.