BRS, BJP go on urban offensive as municipal election battle heats up

Hyderabad: With the panchayat elections out of the way, the political focus in Telangana has shifted firmly to the upcoming municipal polls, with the opposition BRS and BJP moving swiftly to regroup, mobilise cadres and reclaim urban turf amid an aggressive Congress push.Both parties have already launched outreach programmes and held preparatory meetings as they brace for what is shaping up to be a high-stakes contest, particularly in urban centres. Acting on the directions of BRS working president KT Rama Rao, party leaders and cadres have hit the streets to shore up support and stem erosion within the party. The urgency within the BRS follows a major setback in Khammam, where eight party corporators recently defected to the Congress. The defections reduced the BRS's strength in the Khammam Municipal Corporation, triggering alarm within the party. In a bid to reassure workers and arrest further damage, KTR visited Khammam and exhorted the cadre to stay united. The party has since intensified its community outreach to counter Congress's growing influence. BJP's decisive pushThe BJP, too, is stepping up its efforts, banking on its relatively strong footprint in urban areas. Most of the party's MPs and MLAs in the state hail from urban constituencies, reinforcing its belief that municipalities could serve as a launchpad for future electoral gains. The BJP leadership is keen on making a decisive push in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, even as it acknowledges that securing a majority in previous civic elections proved elusive. Senior BJP leaders believe the outcome of the municipal polls will have a bearing on the next assembly elections, lending urgency to the campaign. The party has been holding frequent meetings with MLAs, MLCs, MPs and district presidents, conducting reviews and issuing strategic guidance. As part of the ground campaign, Karimnagar MP and Union minister Bandi Sanjay has begun touring municipalities. During visits to Huzurabad and Jammikunta, he assured voters that BJP-run municipalities would deliver visible development, signalling the party's intent to turn the civic battle into a referendum on governance.