Hyderabad, Nov 26 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh's ruling Congress party and the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) were Thursday ahead in the Hyderabad civic polls with the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) trailing in third position.

Counting of votes for the election held Monday began at 8 a.m. The Congress had won 17 seats and was leading in 11 while the MIM had bagged 15 seats and was ahead in four. The TDP was at third place with 10 seats and leading in four.

About 43 percent of 5.7 million voters had cast their votes in the elections for the 150-member Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

Though Congress and MIM do not have an alliance, they are likely to enter into a post-poll agreement for election of mayor and deputy mayor to be held on Dec 4.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has so far won only one seat and is leading in another. The Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) of actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi and Lok Satta floated by former bureaucrat Jayaprakash Narayan are yet to open their account.

This the first test of strength for the political parties after the April-May elections to the state assembly and the Lok Sabha. The elections also come in a changed political scenario following the Sep 2 death of former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash.

This is the first municipal election after Greater Hyderabad was created in 2007 after merging eight municipalities and 12 villages of neighbouring districts with Hyderabad.

This has made Greater Hyderabad the second biggest urban agglomerate in the country after New Delhi in terms of area (621.48 sq km).

The last election to the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) was held in 2002. The TDP, which was in power in the state, had won majority of the seats in the then 100-member body in alliance with BJP. The TDP candidate was elected mayor in the direct elections held to the post.

This time the newly-elected corporators and ex-officio members (state legislators and MPs) will elect the mayor.