Hyderabad: Congress Confident of Dominating Municipal Elections
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy displayed remarkable optimism on Tuesday as he addressed ministers ahead of the crucial February 11 municipal elections in Telangana. The Congress leader asserted that recent internal surveys indicate minimal substantial competition for the ruling party, with voters expressing broad satisfaction regarding the government's welfare initiatives and developmental agenda.
Strategic Meeting Focuses on Electoral Success
During a comprehensive strategy session convened to finalize plans for elections across 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations, the Chief Minister emphasized that the Congress could potentially secure as many as 95% of the contested seats. This ambitious projection, according to Revanth Reddy, hinges upon ministers maintaining active field presence and ensuring meticulously coordinated booth-level teamwork throughout the campaign period.
The significant meeting witnessed participation from TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud and AICC minder for Telangana, Meenakshi Natarajan. Attendees thoroughly reviewed detailed internal survey reports alongside feedback collected from ministers overseeing various urban local bodies. Notably, Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka and minister Adluri Laxman were absent due to constituency commitments.
Municipal Polls as Prestige Battle
Revanth Reddy underscored that the approaching municipal elections represent a prestige issue for the Congress party, particularly since these contests are being fought using official party symbols. He highlighted the critical importance of electoral success for maintaining political momentum and public confidence in the state administration.
Positive Electoral Trends Emerging
Reliable sources indicate the Chief Minister pointed toward clear signs of improvement in regions where Congress previously faced electoral challenges. Specifically, he reportedly noted the party's rising graph within Karimnagar municipal corporation, where it failed to secure any seats during the 2020 polls. Additionally, a positive wave appears visible in Nizamabad municipal corporation, traditionally considered a stronghold of both the BRS and BJP parties.
Key Success Factors Identified
Revanth Reddy informed ministers that electoral triumph would fundamentally depend on effective ground management and organizational unity. He stressed several crucial requirements:
- Placating aspirants who were denied B-forms
- Politically neutralizing potential rebels
- Coordinating effectively between veteran and emerging leaders
- Bridging differences between loyalists and recent entrants from other political parties
- Preventing any fragmentation of the Congress vote share
Ministers Receive Specific Directives
Ministers received explicit instructions to camp within their allotted parliamentary constituencies, conduct daily meetings with local leaders, and actively promote the Congress government's welfare schemes and development projects directly to citizens. Furthermore, they were directed to submit comprehensive daily reports to the Chief Minister's Office regarding each urban local body's campaign progress.
Alliance Clarifications and Campaign Schedule
TPCC president Mahesh Goud clarified that no electoral alliance exists with the AIMIM for the municipal elections. However, he confirmed the party has established understandings with the CPI, CPM, and Telangana Jana Samithi in selected wards and municipalities across certain districts.
The Chief Minister will resume his district tour starting Wednesday, beginning with foundation stone laying for a Young India Integrated Residential School with an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore. The itinerary includes distribution of interest-free loans to women self-help group members and a public meeting in Miryalguda within Nalgonda district. This tour strategically coincides with the intensive municipal election campaign period.
