BRS secures 17 municipalities, likely to win 6 more

Hyderabad: With over 750 wards and divisions across various municipalities, the BRS secured chairperson and vice-chairperson posts in 17 municipalities in the indirect elections held on Monday. 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.The party's chairpersons won from Sircilla, Jammikunta, Yellampet, Alampur, Isnapur, Toopran, Gajwel, Dubbak, Raikal, Asifabad, Ieeja, Gummadidala, Jinnaram, Gaddapotharam, Muduchintalapally, Cheriyal, and Tirumalagiri (Suryapet).
Former minister T Harish Rao alleged that the Congress and BJP colluded in the municipalities where the BRS had won the highest number of wards. He claimed that in Narsapur, the Congress took the chairperson post and handed over the vice-chairperson post to the BJP. Similarly, he said, in Sirpur-Kagaznagar and Metpally, the Congress and BJP shared the chairperson and vice-chairperson posts. In Sirpur-Kagaznagar, despite the BRS having a clear majority with 11 seats, the Congress and BJP together ‘hijacked' the chairperson post."In Aliabad, the Congress secured the chairperson post with the support of three BJP councillors. In Metpally, Congress extended support to ensure that the BJP captured power, and in Amangal, a secret understanding between Congress and the BJP decided the outcome. 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?" Harish Rao asked.In municipalities such as Kyathanpally, Thorrur, Jangaon, and Zaheerabad, despite the BRS securing a clear majority, attempts are being made to capture chairperson posts by allegedly misusing the administration and police machinery, he claimed. Councillors are being intimidated, and officials are being used as tools to grab power, the former minister alleged.BRS working President KT Rama Rao said the Congress deliberately created trouble and ensured the postponement of the chairperson elections. The party has appointed senior leaders for eight of the 11 municipalities where there is a fractured verdict. On Monday evening, he spoke to MLAs and other senior leaders about the ground situation and asked them to remain on high alert about the ruling party's activities, alleging they could even ‘kidnap' party councillors.Senior leaders deputed to municipalitiesIn the wake of elections to municipalities where elections are postponed on Tuesday, the party deputed 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; and MLA Sabita Indrareddy and MLC Shambirpur Raju to Ibrahimpatnam. The party expressed confidence that if elections are conducted democratically, the BRS flag will surely fly high in these eight municipalities, and no amount of Congress scheming can hinder their candidates' victory.