Andhra Pradesh   

Landslide win for Congress in A.P. municipal elections

S. Nagesh Kumar

Telugu Desam Party a poor second; TRS, BJP no better; Left parties do well

HYDERABAD: Maintaining its winning run, the ruling Congress registered a landslide victory in the municipal elections held on September 24, leaving its main challenger, the Telugu Desam Party, a poor second.

The Congress bagged 1,906 out of 3500 wards and divisions against the Telugu Desam Party's tally of 973. When translated roughly into winning margins, these numbers mean that the Congress candidates will be catapulted to the posts of municipal chairperson in around 75 out of 96 municipalities, TDP in 10, the TRS in two, and the CPI(M) in one.

Among the 10 municipal corporations where results were announced (polling will be completed in Vijayawada only on September 30), the Congress secured a majority on its own in seven and won 25 out of 50 wards in Warangal. However, in the violence-marred election in the Nellore Municipal Corporation, the TDP won 20 divisions as against the Congress' 19. Voters in the 50-strong Karimnagar Municipal Corporation threw up a hung verdict by electing 15 corporators of the TDP, 13 of the Congress, two of the BJP, one from the TRS and 19 others.

Crucial vote

However, the overall fortunes of the parties are likely to alter, though marginally, on September 30 when councillors and corporators will assemble to elect their respective civic chiefs. Much will depend on how the political parties decide on their alliance in the coming four days. Another crucial factor that will tilt the balance in municipalities with slender margins is the vote of MLAs and MPs.

In Chittoor, home district of TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, Guntur, Kurnool, Cuddapah and Srikakulam, the TDP is in no position to get its partymen elected as chairpersons or Mayor. Its rout was complete in some places such as Tuni Municipality in East Godavari district where the Congress swept all the 30 wards on offer.

The TRS' performance belied its confidence about winning many municipalities on its own in Telangana without the backing of the Congress. But, in the final reckoning, it could get a clear majority only in Sangareddy and Siddipet though it has claimed to be in a position to influence the chairpersons' choice in five others. Interestingly, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy announced that he was willing to once again share support with the TRS.

The junior partner in another alliance, the BJP, also fared poorly in the civic polls. Except in Narayanpet Municipality in Mahabubnagar district, it did not count for much in the elections. Overall, it bagged 86 wards and divisions. The Left parties did relatively much better by winning 138 seats between them, some in alliance with the Congress. They are poised to have their nominee as Chairperson of the Khammam Municipality with the Congress support and play a crucial role in some other civic bodies.

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