KHAMMAM: The Congress bagged three municipalities -- Sathupalli, Kothagudem and Yellandu while its ally - CPI (M) was all set to stake claim for the post of chairperson in Khammam.

The Telugu Desam Party, despite a high profile campaign, drew a blank once again in the district.

The party took a drubbing in Sathupalli, where the Congress made a sweep by winning 15 of the 20 wards.

The former civic Chief Kothuru Prabhakar Rao, was among the prominent winners from the TDP. P. Yashoda and Jagannadham Ramulu, of the Congress will be the key contenders for the post of chairperson reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.

MLA mighty pleased

The Sathupalli MLA, Jalagam Venkata Rao, who spearheaded the Congress campaign, said people voted for development. The Congress was expected to win more seats.

But a few wards were lost with narrow margins. Some leaders of the Congress had allegedly worked for the TDP, but failed to make any impact.

In Kothagudem, the Congress won 14 of the 33 wards while its electoral ally -- CPI bagged four wards. The TDP and CPI (M) won six and three seats respectively.

The TRS won a lone seat, wile independents won five wards. One of the independents was a Congress rebel, while two others were loyal to the CPI.

Kasula Sudharani of the Congress will be the unanimous choice for the chairperson post reserved for BC woman.

In Yellandu, the Congress, which won nine of the 24 wards, will stake claim for the chairmanship reserved for the SCs with the support of the CPI(M) and the CPI(ML New Democracy), which won two wards each.

The CPI and the TDP, which contested the polls with an electoral understanding in the civic body, won two and four wards respectively.

Five independent candidates who won the election were the much sought after ones.

Since a majority of them happened to be Congress rebels, they are expected to support the Congress. M. Babu, G Nagender and Badugu Mani of the Congress are the contenders for the post of chairman.

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