Congress, BJP unite to capture Kagaznagar chairperson, raises eyebrows of many

In a surprising political move, Congress and BJP joined hands to secure Kagaznagar municipality posts. Shaheen Sultana became chairperson while Dr K Anitha was elected vice-chairperson after a tie, leaving local politics and social media buzzing

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: The ruling Congress joined hands with the BJP and managed to secure the chairperson post of Kagaznagar municipality on Tuesday.

Hours after photographs of BJP leaders and councillors meeting the family members of the Congress councillors in a camp went viral on WhatsApp and Facebook, the Congress won the chairperson post of Kagaznagar. While Shaheen Sultana of the Congress was unanimously elected as the chairperson, Dr K Anitha from the BJP was selected as vice-chairperson.

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Nine councillors from the Congress, three from the BJP, two independents, and MLC Dande Vittal from the Congress, apart from local MLA Dr P Harish of the BJP, raised their hands in support of Shaheen’s candidature. However, Dr Anitha unexpectedly emerged victorious as the vice-chairperson with the help of councillors from the BRS when Gajjela Lavanya of the BJP could not prove the majority. Dr Anitha was declared vice-chairperson after a draw of lots was held when Lavanya and Anitha achieved equal votes. An independent who initially supported Shaheen’s candidature stayed away from voting during the election of the vice-chairperson, resulting in a tie and prompting officials to conduct the draw of lots.

Anitha also did not participate in the election of the chairperson, citing that her party did not support a Muslim candidate as chairperson. A councillor of the BJP did not attend the meeting. So, only three BJP councillors supported Shaheen’s candidature against their total strength of five.

The BRS had won 11 wards of the 30-member Kagaznagar municipality, while the Congress bagged nine wards and the BJP had five wards. Independents registered victory from four wards and an AIMIM candidate won from a ward, placing themselves in a decisive role. However, the Congress and its arch rival BJP joined hands to secure the chairperson post.

On Monday night, the BJP drew sharp criticism from users of social media platforms for setting its core ideologies aside to gain power when the photographs were widely shared on WhatsApp and Facebook. Sirpur (T) MLA Dr P Harish’s uncle Sudhakar Rao, BJP councillors Vishweshwar Rao, Gajjala Lavanya’s husband Laxman, and Alladi Raj Kumar and Dastagiri from the Congress were seen posing for a group photograph in the camp.

Meanwhile, the election of the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the 12-member Khanapur municipality was postponed due to lack of quorum. The BRS and the BJP were tied with four wards each, while the Congress won three wards and an independent emerged victorious from a ward. The BRS is locking horns with BJP to capture the chairperson of Khanapur civic body.