Diversion politics trips Congress as BRS regains urban edge

As Telangana votes in municipal elections, the campaign has exposed Congress’ struggle to defend its two-year record amid internal dissent and controversy, while the BRS mounts a disciplined challenge, turning civic polls into a broader test of governance and credibility

Hyderabad: As Telangana heads into municipal elections on Wednesday, the campaign has exposed a widening gap between rhetoric and record, with the ruling Congress struggling to deflect increasing scrutiny despite a high-decibel push. Though out of power, the BRS appears to have seized the opportunity by framing the contest around governance failures, unkept promises and rising public unease over civic issues in urban areas.

All major parties, including Congress, BRS and BJP, have mounted hectic campaigns, alongside AIMIM, Left parties and independents in select pockets. Instead of grounding its performance in urban local bodies over the past two years and promises of urban development for the future, the Congress, especially Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, leaned heavily on an attention-diversion strategy.

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The campaign opened with renewed focus on the alleged phone-tapping case involving BRS leaders, including questioning of BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, just a day after the nominations were filed. Far from denting the opposition, the move appeared to energise BRS ranks, triggering rallies and protests that consolidated cadre morale and public support.

The Congress’ discomfort deepened as the campaign progressed. Revanth Reddy’s personal and abusive attacks on Chandrashekhar Rao, particularly after returning from a Harvard leadership programme, drew criticism even beyond party lines. The fire accident at the Telangana State Forensic Science Laboratory where evidence linked to the cash-for-vote case involving the Chief Minister was stored, sparked fresh controversy and raised more suspicions over the Congress government.

Perhaps for the first time in the political history of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, a sitting Chief Minister plunged aggressively into municipal campaigning. But the attempt to dominate the narrative faltered on the ground. Congress Ministers and MLAs, including G Vivek Venkataswamy and Tummala Nageswara Rao, faced pointed questions from voters over delays in delivering Assembly election promises even after two years into office.

Internal cracks further weakened the Congress. Senior leaders, including former Minister T Jeevan Reddy, along with Left parties, openly opposed Congress candidates in several areas, backing independents and, in some cases, BRS nominees. Despite its proximity to the Congress, AIMIM fielded candidates against it in multiple municipalities, amid allegations of a Congress-BJP nexus in some areas.

In contrast, the BRS ran a calibrated and disciplined campaign. Chandrashekhar Rao stayed off the campaign trail but oversaw strategy, while KT Rama Rao, Harish Rao and other senior leaders led ground operations. Attempts to project the former Chief Minister in poor light, particularly through police summons, appeared to have backfired, turning into rallying points for the party. Early appointment of coordinators, tighter booth-level management and efforts to minimise rebel damage gave the BRS a clear organisational edge.

The BJP sought urban expansion with national backing, but its campaign lost momentum after key leaders, including Union Minister Amit Shah and Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan, dropped scheduled appearances, confining its impact to limited pockets.

As campaigning ended amid reports of last-minute poll management, the Congress appears to be banking on lower voter turnout to scrape through. However, the BRS and the BJP are reportedly pushing hard for higher participation to turn the winds in their favour. Under these circumstances, the municipal polls now look less like a routine civic exercise and more like a referendum on the Congress’ faltering first two years and a possible urban comeback moment for the BRS.