Thorrur chairperson polls postponed amid tense BRS-Congress clash

Thorrur and Dornakal municipal elections postponed amid BRS-Congress clashes and ex-officio voting disputes; police intervene, BRS stages dharna demanding rightful chairperson post

Mahabubabad: Amid high tensions, the election of Thorrur Municipality chairperson and vice chairperson scheduled to take place on Monday was postponed to Tuesday.

Prior to the beginning of the election process, Congress and BRS cadres clashed sparking high tension. Workers of both the parties reached the municipality office in large numbers, raised slogans and attacked each other. The issue of ex-officio voting led to the dispute among the two parties.

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When former minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao reached the municipal office premises, Congress workers raised slogans against him and the BRS workers retorted, which was followed by a scuffle between them.

Congress workers beat up Dayakar Rao’s personal assistant Bhaskar. The police resorted to mild lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Congress workers tried to attack Dayakar Rao but police prevented them.

It might be noted that of the 16 municipal wards in the municipality, BRS won nine and Congress won seven. However, MLA M Yashaswini Reddy and MP Kadiyam Kavya registered as ex-officio members taking the Congress strength to nine.

Dayakar Rao said that MP Kavya is not entitled to vote in the chairperson election as she was already registered as an ex-officio member in Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation. If Kavya casts her ex-officio vote against the rules, the BRS would approach the court.

He along with the party cadres staged a dharna demanding that the party’s councillor should be given the chance to become chairperson as the BRS has the majority. He entered into heated arguments with police over the presence of Congress leader Jhansi Reddy at the municipal office during the election process.

Meanwhile, the election of Dornakal Municipality chairperson and vice chairperson was also postponed as MLA Ramchandar Naik was not available to attend the election. The election will be held on Tuesday.