All eyes on four municipalities that see hung verdict in erstwhile Adilabad
Four municipalities in the erstwhile Adilabad district returned hung verdicts in recent civic polls, triggering intense political manoeuvring. With Independents holding the balance, the Congress, BRS and BJP are vying for chairperson posts amid fears of defections and delays.
Adilabad: All eyes are on erstwhile Adilabad district which saw hung verdict in four municipalities out of the total 11 civic bodies in recent polls, dealing a blow to the ruling Congress.
While the Congress managed to win newly created Mancheiral municipal corporation, Nirmal and Chennur municipalities by achieving a required majority of wards, the BRS bagged Kyathanpalli municipality. The AIMIM and BJP emerged as the first forces in Bhainsa and Adilabad civic bodies by having a lead in wards.
However, neither the Congress, nor BRS and BJP party secured absolute majority in Kagaznagar, Bellampalli, Asifabad and Khanapur municipalities, resulting in a hung verdict and drawing the attention of many. Independents and smaller parties have become kingmakers in the civic bodies with registering victories from at least four wards in Kagaznagar, Bellampalli and Asifabad municipalities.
The ruling Congress, the BRS and BJP are making moves to capture the posts of chairpersons of the four civic bodies using different tactics. They are trying to lure Independents by offering the posts of chairperson and deputy chairpersons of these municipalities to Independents who play a decisive role in securing the civic bodies.
The Congress and BRS are now vying to get power in the 30-member Kagaznagar by seeking the support from the Independents and AIMIM which won a ward and held the balance. MLC Dande Vittal and former Sirpur (T) MLA Koneru Konappa of the BRS are leaving no stone to secure the throne of the civic body. The BRS won the civic body in 2020.
The two parties are competing with each other to secure the power in the 20-member Asifabad municipality, which was once a strong bastion of the BRS. The Congress leader Puranam Sathish has been a driving force behind its mission to achieve power. Asifabad MLA Kova Laxmi from BRS has an edge as she enjoys sway over the town.
The BRS party is locking horns with the Congress to bag power in the 34-member Bellampalli municipality. The two parties tied at 14 wards each here. The BRS succeeded in two Independents joining the BRS. The Congress is determined to reign on the civic body by poaching the remaining Independents. Khanapur is witnessing a similar drama.
Political analysts opined that the three parties might follow a postponing method if they were not confident of securing power in the four municipalities by refraining councilors from participating in the meeting to elect chairpersons slated for Monday. They have been operating camps in Hyderabad and Maharashtra to protect their candidates from being poached.
