BRS electoral prospects soar amidst growing public discontent with Congress rule, says survey

BRS likely to get 87 seats while the Congress may retain only 14 to 21 seats in fresh polls, compared to the 64 it won in 2023

Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has shown a remarkable improvement in its prospects, with a potential to win up to 87 seats in the event of fresh Assembly elections in the State. This represents a significant 123 percent increase from its previous tally of 39 seats in 2023, according to the findings of a recent survey held by a reputed agency.

The survey, carried out in the third and fourth weeks of February, covered all 119 assembly constituencies, with 3,213 contacts made at the rate of 27 per constituency. Four observers, each entrusted with one of the four zones – GHMC, Hyderabad suburbs, North Telangana and South Telangana – monitored the exercise.

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According to the findings, the Congress party may retain only 14 to 21 seats in fresh polls, compared to the 64 it won in 2023. The Congress, which had won a lone assembly seat out of 25 seats in the GHMC limits in 2023, is certain to draw a blank if elections were held now. In North Telangana, the Congress had won 33 of the 51 seats in 2023, but may have to contend with only 7 to 9 seats in fresh elections. In South Telangana, the Congress party had won 30 of the 43 seats in 2023, but the tally may come down to 7 to 17 seats now.

In contrast, the BRS’s tally would go up to 73 to 87 seats, with the breakdown being 17 in GHMC limits, 28 to 38 in North Telangana, and 28 to 32 in South Telangana. This significant improvement in electoral prospects highlights the growing support for the BRS among the people of Telangana, who are increasingly coming out onto the streets in protest against the failures of the Congress government. The BJP, who had won eight seats in 2023, may register a marginal gain by standing a chance to win seven to 11 seats. Other parties which had won eight seats in 2023, including the AIMIM, would be able to retain 6 to 7 of them.

During the one-and-a-half-year rule of Revanth Reddy, almost every section of society felt let down. It gave the impression that the previous BRS government was far better compared to the present Congress administration. As a result of this, the BRS is gaining ground at the grassroots level. On the other hand, the BJP, after the Lok Sabha polls, has started losing its base, with State leaders still campaigning for votes in the name of Narendra Modi, giving rise to the feeling that the party faces a leadership deficit.

The BRS, emboldened by the sympathy gained among the people, is witnessing a resurgence. People believe that only BRS president K Chandrashekhar Rao has ample knowledge of the State’s problems and needs, and there is no match for him in the Congress party. The sentiment that Chandrashekhar Rao’s comeback is imperative is growing stronger, according to the survey.

Repentance among the people for having voted in favor of the Congress seeking change is also increasing. The argument that the Congress party should not have been given an opportunity at all is strengthening. People acknowledge a significant gap between the words and deeds of Revanth Reddy, who is perceived as lacking knowledge, the survey found.

Corruption in the government has become rampant, and the administration has come to a standstill. There is a clear lack of coordination among the Ministers, with doubts about the abilities of 80 percent of them to discharge their responsibilities effectively. The government has also proved to be lacking in a human approach towards the people, those responding to the survey said.

The witch hunt launched by Revanth Reddy targeting BRS leaders has also become a negative aspect for the Congress government. People do not have any positive impressions about Revanth Reddy frequenting Delhi so often. Local leaders were unable to reflect the ground reality about governance in the state in their reports to the high command, according to the survey.