Complete rout of Congress in Patancheru municipal elections attributed to internal rifts

The Congress party faced a severe setback in Patancheru, losing all five municipalities to the BRS. Internal rifts between leaders Kata Srinivas Goud and Neelam Madhu Mudiraj, compounded by MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy’s support for BRS candidates, weakened the Congress campaign.

Sangareddy: The Congress government’s failure to implement promises made during the election campaign, coupled with the BRS party’s efforts to expose these shortcomings and the widened differences within the Congress in Patancheru, saw the party suffering one of its worst defeats in the State in the municipal elections.

The Congress lost all five municipalities in Patancheru to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which became a topic of discussion in Congress circles across the State. The rivalry between constituency in-charge Kata Srinivas Goud, who contested as the Congress candidate from the Patancheru Assembly constituency in the last two elections and lost, and Neelam Madhu Mudiraj, who contested from the Medak Lok Sabha constituency, once again came into sharp focus.

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When Patancheru MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy, who joined the Congress after winning for the third consecutive time on a BRS ticket, decided to support BRS candidates in the municipal elections, the battle intensified. Boosting the BRS candidates’ prospects, former Minister T Harish Rao also addressed multiple campaign meetings across the five municipalities, exposing the Congress government’s failures. The results reflected this trend, with the BRS bagging all five municipalities and triggering debate within Congress ranks.

Several party workers and leaders were of the opinion that the lack of unity between Srinivas Goud and Madhu Mudiraj cost the party dearly in the elections. Workers stated that the followers of the two leaders worked against each other across the municipalities, contributing to the party’s debacle in the civic polls.

Ahead of the elections, Srinivas Goud and Madhu Mudiraj posed together for photographs to signal unity. However, the results indicated that the unity remained only symbolic and did not translate into coordinated efforts on the ground.

Party workers observed that unless the differences between the two key leaders in the constituency were resolved, the Congress would continue to face electoral setbacks in the constituency.

With the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections approaching, Congress cadres voiced concern that internal differences could affect the party’s prospects. There are nine GHMC divisions in the Patancheru constituency.

The Pradesh Congress Committee is expected to closely monitor the activities of both leaders during the GHMC elections, and those who acted against party candidates may face action. Meanwhile, both leaders also failed to coordinate effectively with TPCC Vice-President Gali Anil Kumar, who hails from the constituency.