BJP shifts municipal poll candidates from Telangana to Maharashtra ahead of results

Ahead of the announcement of municipal poll results, the BJP shifted its candidates from Mancherial and Luxettipet to Maharashtra, citing temple visits, amid fears of poaching. The move is aimed at securing key posts in civic bodies.

Mancherial: A day before the announcement of results of Wednesday’s municipal polls, the BJP shifted its candidates to Maharashtra, reportedly to prevent poaching by rival parties.

The party is learnt to have taken its candidates from the Mancherial Municipal Corporation (MMC) and Luxettipet municipality to Chandrapur in Maharashtra by bus and lodged them in a hotel on Wednesday night. It claimed that the nominees were visiting the famous Mahakali temple in the city. The party is likely to shift candidates from Bellampalli, Chennur and Kyathanpalli civic bodies on Thursday and Friday.

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The BJP is said to have decided to move the candidates of the two civic bodies to the neighbouring State to prevent defections and alleged poaching by the ruling Congress. The strategy is aimed at securing the maiden mayor and deputy mayor posts of MMC and the chairperson posts in the remaining four civic bodies.

A section of candidates from Bellampalli, Chennur and Kyathanpalli expressed disinterest in joining the camp, stating that they were exhausted after over a fortnight of extensive campaigning. They were said to have declined the tour, citing the need for rest and personal reasons, including spending time with their families.

The BRS, Congress and BJP are locked in a three-cornered contest for the four municipalities and the corporation. While the BRS is banking on developmental activities undertaken during its two terms in office, the Congress has highlighted recent development works. The BJP has claimed that it would develop the civic bodies with support from the Centre.