Congress Secures Nizamabad Mayor Post with AIMIM Alliance After Two Decades
In a significant political development in Telangana, the Congress party has won the mayor's position in the Nizamabad municipal corporation, marking its return to the post after nearly 20 years. This victory came through a strategic post-poll understanding with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which secured the deputy mayor's position.
Election Results and Political Dynamics
Despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as the single largest party with 28 seats in the 60-ward corporation, Congress managed to clinch the mayor's seat by forming an alliance. The Congress had won 17 seats, while AIMIM secured 14, and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) held just one seat. Through this coalition, Congress increased its vote tally to 34, combining its 17 corporators with 17 from AIMIM, two ex officio members, and support from the lone BRS corporator.
Kuragayala Uma Rani of Congress was elected as the mayor, with Salma Tahseen of AIMIM becoming the deputy mayor. The mayor's post was reserved for women from the general category, and Congress fielded Uma Rani, a Backward Class woman candidate. The election was marked by high drama, with BJP leaders appealing to corporators and ex officio members to vote according to their conscience.
Political Reactions and Allegations
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B Mahesh Kumar Goud described the party's performance in the state's municipal elections as a referendum on the Congress government's governance. Uttam Kumar Reddy, who oversees urban local bodies in the Nizamabad parliamentary constituency, stated that the results reflected a rejection of BJP's attempts at religious polarization in north Telangana.
Speaking at the Congress office in Nizamabad after the election, Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasized that the outcome endorsed inclusive, development-focused governance and defeated divisive tactics. He reaffirmed the Congress government's commitment to developing the Nizamabad municipal corporation and all urban local bodies in the state.
In contrast, BJP leaders alleged that Congress, along with AIMIM and other parties, had undermined democracy. They claimed this alliance proved that Congress, AIMIM, and BRS are secret partners, despite BRS leadership denying their corporator's support and stating they would investigate and take appropriate action.
Historical Context and Candidate Backgrounds
The last time Congress held the mayor's post in Nizamabad was in 2006, during the undivided Andhra Pradesh era. In the 2020 election, Congress had won only two seats in the corporation, making this victory a notable comeback.
Within Congress, Uma Rani and Lalita were contenders for the mayor's post. Uma Rani's husband, Ramesh, who belongs to the Mudiraj community, is a follower of TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud, while Lalita is from the Munnurkapu community. On the AIMIM side, deputy mayor Salma Tahseen's husband, Shakeel Fazal, serves as the party's Nizamabad city president.
BJP, with its 28 seats and three ex officio members, reached a vote tally of 31. The political landscape in Nizamabad continues to evolve, with this election highlighting shifting alliances and strategies in Telangana's municipal politics.
