BRS wins Indresham but loses Zaheerabad, Medak municipalities

In Medak district, BRS secured nine municipalities, including Indresham, while Congress won 10. Zaheerabad went to Congress despite BRS winning more wards, aided by Independent and MIM support. Key leadership and alliances determined municipal chairperson and vice-chairperson posts.

Sangareddy: The BRS bagged Indresham municipality in Patancheru constituency, taking its total tally to nine out of 19 municipalities in the erstwhile Medak district, while the Congress secured 10 municipalities. BRS councillors elected Kushangula Prameela as Chairperson and Patllolla Harish Reddy as Vice-Chairman.

Out of 18 wards in Indresham municipality, the BRS secured nine wards, falling short of the magic figure of 10. The Congress won six wards, while the BJP and an Independent secured two and one ward, respectively.

---

However, the Independent candidate later joined the BRS, making it easier for the party to form the municipality.

Meanwhile, the Congress bagged Zaheerabad municipality even though the BRS had won a higher number of wards. The Congress secured the support of an Independent ward member by offering the Vice-Chairperson post, tilting the election in its favour. Out of 37 wards, the BRS secured 15, while the Congress finished second with 14 wards. The BJP and MIM won three and two wards respectively, while Independents secured three wards.

Zaheerabad BRS MLA K Manik Rao and Congress MP Suresh Shetkar enrolled themselves as ex officio members. While the BRS secured the support of three BJP councillors, taking its tally to 19, the Congress garnered the support of MIM and Independent members and defeated the BRS by a margin of a single vote.

Congress councillors elected Mohd Yunus as Chairman and Independent candidate Kothakapu Sirisha as Vice-Chairperson.

The BRS thus lost Zaheerabad and Medak municipalities to the Congress even though its candidates had won more wards than the Congress.