BRS Secures 17 Municipal Leadership Posts in Telangana Indirect Elections
In the indirect elections held on Monday across various municipalities in Telangana, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) achieved significant success by securing chairperson and vice-chairperson positions in 17 urban local bodies. This victory spans over 750 wards and divisions, demonstrating the party's strong grassroots presence in the state.
Allegations of Congress-BJP Collusion Emerge
Former minister T Harish Rao leveled serious allegations against the Congress and BJP, claiming they colluded in municipalities where the BRS had won the highest number of wards. He provided specific examples to support his claims.
In Narsapur municipality, Rao alleged that the Congress took the chairperson post and handed over the vice-chairperson position to the BJP. Similarly, in Sirpur-Kagaznagar and Metpally, he stated that the Congress and BJP shared the chairperson and vice-chairperson posts through coordinated efforts.
"In Sirpur-Kagaznagar, despite the BRS having a clear majority with 11 seats, the Congress and BJP together 'hijacked' the chairperson post," Rao asserted. He further explained that in Aliabad, the Congress secured the chairperson post with support from three BJP councillors, while in Metpally, Congress extended support to ensure BJP captured power.
Rao also mentioned a "secret understanding" between Congress and BJP in Amangal that decided the election outcome. He questioned these political maneuvers, asking, "On one hand, alliances are formed with the MIM in districts such as Nizamabad and Mahabubnagar. On the other hand, tie-ups are made with the BJP in north Telangana. Is this what public governance means?"
BRS Victory Municipalities and Future Prospects
The BRS chairpersons won from multiple municipalities including Sircilla, Jammikunta, Yellampet, Alampur, Isnapur, Toopran, Gajwel, Dubbak, Raikal, Asifabad, Ieeja, Gummadidala, Jinnaram, Gaddapotharam, Muduchintalapally, Cheriyal, and Tirumalagiri (Suryapet).
Of the 11 urban local bodies where elections were postponed, the party is likely to win six more municipalities: Kyatanpally, Zaheerabad, Ibrahimpatnam, Janagaon, Torrur, and Indresham. However, Rao claimed that in municipalities such as Kyathanpally, Thorrur, Jangaon, and Zaheerabad, despite BRS securing clear majorities, attempts are being made to capture chairperson posts by allegedly misusing administration and police machinery.
"Councillors are being intimidated, and officials are being used as tools to grab power," the former minister alleged, highlighting concerns about democratic processes in these areas.
BRS Leadership Response and Strategic Deployment
BRS working President KT Rama Rao accused the Congress of deliberately creating trouble to ensure postponement of chairperson elections. He revealed that the party has appointed senior leaders for eight of the 11 municipalities where there is a fractured verdict.
On Monday evening, Rama Rao spoke to MLAs and other senior leaders about the ground situation, asking them to remain on high alert about the ruling party's activities. He expressed concerns that they could even 'kidnap' party councillors to influence election outcomes.
The party has deployed senior leaders to municipalities where elections are postponed on Tuesday:
- Former speaker and MLC S Madhusudhana Chary, Satyavathi Rathod, and Peddi Sudarshan Reddy to Torrur
- Legislative council deputy chairman Banda Prakash and MLC Pochampally Srinivas Reddy to Janagaon
- MLA Kova Laxmi to Kothapalli
- MLA Anil Jadav to Khanapur
- MLA Prabhakar Reddy and MLC Yadava Reddy to Indresham
- Former minister Jogu Ramanna to Kagaznagar
- MLAs Chinta Prabhakar and Sunitha Laxma Reddy to Zaheerabad
- MLA Sabita Indrareddy and MLC Shambirpur Raju to Ibrahimpatnam
The BRS expressed confidence that if elections are conducted democratically, their flag will surely fly high in these eight municipalities. They believe no amount of Congress scheming can hinder their candidates' victory when proper democratic processes are followed.
The party's strategic deployment of senior leaders and their allegations of opposition collusion highlight the intense political competition in Telangana's local governance structures, with implications for future political alignments in the state.
