Dashing the hopes of all political parties, which conducted the campaign in an unprecedented way, the polling for GHMC electons was unusually sluggish. At around I PM the average polling was just 21.56 per cent. In some booths the turnout was as low as 15 per cent according to media reports.

There was no poll-atmosphere on the streets. Except the agents of political parties, there had been no movement of people. This time, all political parties hoped that creation of Telangana state would create new awareness among the people and this  would ensure increased polling. The parties, in every road show, invariably requested the people to exercise their franchise without fail and in a big way. The voter apathy had surprised everybody.

This campaign witnessed an unprecedented tempo this time with every party taking the election as life and death issue. Because, the defeat in GHMC election will have its bearing in the 2019  Assembly election and the party which emerges victorious is bound to use the win in GHMC to discredit the rival parties. Congress brought Digvijay Singh from New Delhi. The party deployed Renuka Chowdary too. From TDP Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, his son Lokesh Naidu and almost all cabinet minister from Andhra Pradesh participated in the campaig. On behalf of BJP union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu campaigned extensively. Former minister Purandeswari also addressed many meetings in Hyderabad of BJP. As for Telangana Rashtra Samiti, KCR’s family-KTR and Kavita and chief minister KCR himself- addressed meetings.

All parties promised moon to the people. They offered free wi-fi, good roads, uninterrupted power supply, daily supply of Godavari water, parks, markets, railway stations, bus stations etc. None of these tall promises seems to have inspired the people. Few voters stirred out of homes till 1 pm, despite government declaring holiday for public and private sector establishments in view of the polling. Around 1 pm in a polling booth out 788 votes, only 165 voters turned up for voting.

Polling officials and political agents were hoping against hope that the polling would gain momentum in the afternoon.