BJP’s Rajgopal Reddy concedes defeat in Munugode bypoll

The BJP’s Munugode candidate Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy has conceded defeat and accepted the people's verdict.

Nalgonda: BJP candidate Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy threw in the towel as early as the 12th round, leaving the counting centre and telling the media outside that he had conceded defeat.

Stating that he would respect the verdict of the people of Munugode, the BJP candidate said he had no hopes of the remaining three rounds of counting helping him win, and that was why decided to leave early.

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However, even while leaving, Rajgopal Reddy’s words were bitter, with the former MLA levelling accusations of misuse of power by the ruling TRS party and also alleging that he was not allowed to campaign the way he wanted. He alleged that he had lost the bypoll as the TRS had lured the people with money and liquor and misused official machinery to influence the voters.

”Though I have lost the by-election, morally I have won,” he claimed. “To defeat a BJP candidate in a by-poll, the entire Telangana Cabinet, MLAs and TRS leaders descended over Munugode constituency. The official machinery also supported the TRS party. The people were left with no choice but to vote for the TRS candidate,” he alleged, also accusing the TRS of ”using all sorts of tricks” to stop him from campaigning.

The BJP candidate did not leave the Election Commission of India as well, alleging that the ECI was forced to manipulate the poll coming under pressure from the TRS.