Telangana BJP Chief Dismisses Congress Municipal Election Wins as 'Inflated'
In a sharp political counterattack, Telangana BJP chief N Ramchander Rao on Friday dismissed the ruling Congress party's claimed victory in the recent municipal elections as 'inflated and aided by misuse of power'. Speaking at a press conference in Hyderabad, Rao sought to blunt the Congress's post-poll momentum by challenging the narrative of a decisive mandate.
BJP Highlights Vote Share Growth Amid Allegations of Alliance Politics
Rao asserted that the election results actually reflected the BJP's steady rise rather than a Congress wave. He pointed to concrete statistical evidence, noting that the BJP's vote share had increased significantly from 13% to 20% across the municipalities. 'This clear expansion of support demonstrates our growing influence,' Rao declared, while simultaneously claiming that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was experiencing a noticeable decline in political standing.
The BJP leader made serious allegations about electoral alliances, claiming that both Congress and BRS secured victories in numerous locations only with the backing of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). 'Urban Naxalites, communists, and AIMIM collaborated in an organized manner specifically to defeat BJP candidates,' Rao alleged, painting a picture of coordinated opposition against his party.
'Fevicol Bond' Between Opposition Parties Alleged
Rao introduced the metaphor of a 'Fevicol bond' to describe what he characterized as an unbreakable alliance between Congress, BRS, and AIMIM. According to his claims, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi personally appealed to Muslim voters to strategically support whichever party—Congress or BRS—was in second position in any given constituency to prevent BJP victories.
'Without Majlis's explicit support, Congress and BRS would not have been able to secure wins in many municipalities,' Rao insisted. He further stated that the BJP lost several contests by narrow margins specifically due to what he described as Majlis's influential intervention in those areas.
Future Political Strategy and GHMC Elections
Looking ahead to the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections, Rao leveled additional allegations against the Congress government. He claimed that the administration had attempted to divide GHMC into three separate parts specifically to ensure a mayoral seat for AIMIM, suggesting structural manipulation of electoral boundaries for political advantage.
Rao also made the BJP's position clear regarding potential hung verdicts in local bodies. 'In municipalities and corporations with hung results, BJP will not support any other party and will not back alternative formations,' he stated unequivocally. This declaration signals a firm stance against coalition politics at the local level.
Reflecting on historical context, Rao noted that in previous local elections in Telangana, the BJP had achieved favorable results. 'Similarly, even if the current municipal election outcomes are not as we had hoped, the undeniable trend shows BJP's influence is clearly growing across the state,' he concluded, emphasizing long-term political trajectory over immediate electoral setbacks.
