Compare performance records before claiming ‘clean sweep’, KTR tells Congress

BRS working president KT Rama Rao dismissed Congress claims of a “clean sweep” in municipal elections, highlighting BRS’ strong performance as ruling party compared to Congress’ previous tenure in opposition. He also criticised BJP’s poor showing and alleged misuse of money in polls

Hyderabad: Dismissing claims of a ‘clean sweep’ by the Congress in the municipal polls, Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president KT Rama Rao on Saturday said the real picture would emerge only when the performance of the BRS as the ruling party was compared with that of the Congress when it was in the opposition. He also called for a comparison of how many divisions the Congress had won in the GHMC elections when A Revanth Reddy was Malkajgiri MP and TPCC president.

“How many municipalities and municipal corporations did the Congress win when it was in the opposition? It won just four urban local bodies. Now, compare that to how many the BRS has won while being the main opposition party,” he said during an informal interaction with the media here.

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Stating that the Congress, despite making tall claims over Friday’s results, was clearly unhappy and disappointed with the local body election outcome, Rama Rao said the ruling party had not won as many seats as it had expected, or as many as ruling parties usually secure in such elections. On the other hand, he said, the BRS cadre had put up a strong fight and there were expectations of winning more than 30 municipalities. In addition to the 17 ULBs it has secured, the BRS still has a good opportunity to capture more urban local bodies in view of the hung verdicts, he added.

Taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party, the BRS working president questioned why it was claiming a good performance in the municipal elections. “Despite BJP national president and a Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) campaigning for the party, it did not win one municipality. This reflects the party’s performance. In fact, the party got fewer votes and won less wards compared to the last elections,” he said.

Stating that there would not be a major impact if party presidents campaigned in local body elections, Rama Rao said local issues take centre stage in such polls and that the ruling party usually has an edge. However, he added, the Congress could not manage that advantage this time.

Expressing concern over the influence of money in local body elections, the BRS working president alleged that the Congress had spent lavishly. Despite this misuse of money and muscle power, the BRS cadre put up a strong fight, he said.

“Our party leaders and workers fought hard in the panchayat and municipal elections as well. The local body election results have given a fitting reply to all those who slammed us after the Parliament elections,” Rama Rao said, also alleging that the Congress government had no clarity about rules pertaining to ex-officio members. Initially, District Collectors spoke about a few set of rules and now the Chief Secretary was contradicting them, he said.

Formula E race to be raked up again

The BRS working president alleged that with the municipal elections over, the Congress would once again rake up the Formula E race issue to divert public attention.

“They have already called us four times and derived nothing. There is credible information that they are going to call us again,” Rama Rao said, adding that irrespective of how many times the government summoned him, he would oblige as a law-abiding citizen.

“I have no problem. Even if I am jailed, I have no fear,” Rama Rao maintained, asserting that police officials and the ACB had informed the Chief Minister multiple times that there was no case in the issue.