KTR dismisses Congress ‘landslide win’ narrative, says public discontent evident

BRS working president KT Rama Rao dismissed Congress’s claim of a landslide victory in the Telangana municipal polls, arguing that the ruling party secured only about 60 per cent of urban local bodies. He highlighted hung verdicts in several councils and accused Congress of irregularities and inducements.

Hyderabad: After giving a tough fight in the municipal polls to both the ruling Congress, BRS working president KT Rama Rao declared that the party was open to aligning with like-minded secular forces to safeguard Telangana’s interests.

He dismissed the manufactured narrative of a landslide victory for Congress, stating that the election verdict reflected growing public discontent against the ruling Congress.

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Addressing the media at Telangana Bhavan on Friday, Rama Rao said the Congress had secured only about 60 per cent of the urban local bodies, which was far from the ‘one-sided victory’ or ‘clean sweep’ that was being projected by certain sections of the media.

Of the 123 urban local bodies including 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations, he pointed out that the BRS secured around 16 directly and around 30 civic bodies including Jangaon, Mahabubabad, Gadwal and Wardhannapet among others, had seen hung verdicts.

“Effectively, the Congress secured less than 80 urban local bodies, which is around 60 per cent. Unless the ruling party wins 80 percent seats, it cannot claim a landslide,” he said, recalling that in 2020, the TRS (now BRS) had won 122 out of 130 civic bodies, which was in every sense of the word, a landslide victory and one-sided clean sweep, unlike what was being attributed to the Congress now.

Rama Rao argued that local body elections typically favour the party in power, particularly midway through its term, but Telangana had delivered a different message.

Citing the recent panchayat polls as well, BRS-backed candidates had won nearly 40 percent of gram panchayats and over 4,000 sarpanch posts. Among the urban local bodies, the party directly secured around 16 municipalities and emerged as the single largest party in another 10 to 15, placing it in a decisive position in several councils.

In ward-level contests, the party secured over 730 of nearly 2,580 seats, which was more than 30 percent, he said, adding that this was despite the misuse of administrative machinery, money power and intimidation tactics by the Congress.

Pointing out irregularities in counting in places such as Gadwal and Wardhannapet, he said Congress leaders were attempting to lure newly elected representatives from the BRS through inducements and pressure tactics.

“We will fight these attempts politically and legally,” he said.

Rama Rao indicated at political realignment to prevent both Congress in the State and the BJP at the Centre from exploiting the State.

Pointing to an understanding with the CPI in select pockets, including Kyathanpally in Chennur, particularly after BRS exposed the alleged Rs 6,000-crore scam in Singareni tenders, he said he had personally reached out to CPI State secretary K Sambasiva Rao and offered support to the party in the Kothagudem municipal corporation, which is facing a hung verdict with the CPI as the single largest party.

A decision would be taken on the party’s stand in civic bodies with a hung verdict after consulting local leaders and discussing with party chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao.

Taking a swipe at Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for recently describing himself as both the “King and Minister” of the State, Rama Rao remarked that Indian voters had a history of unseating even powerful leaders. “Those who underestimate the people do not last,” he said, recalling electoral defeats of towering figures in the past.

Reiterating the party’s stand on defected MLAs, he challenged the Congress to prove its strength by making the turncoats resign and face bypolls.

“Local body results are about local factors. If the Congress believes this is a massive mandate, let it test that claim,” he said, asserting that the municipal verdict was evidence of growing dissatisfaction among people against the Congress government.

The BRS working president said the results established his party as the principal opposition and the only political force capable of challenging both the Congress government in the State and the BJP nationally.

Crediting party president K Chandrashekhar Rao for sustaining public faith, he said the party would carry the momentum into the upcoming GHMC and GWMC as well as MPTC and ZPTC polls.

He thanked citizens for voting without fear and reaffirmed that BRS would continue to protect democratic values. He also asked the party candidates who lost the elections not to get disheartened and assured the party’s support in their future.

మున్సిపల్ ఎన్నికల్లో కూడా బీఆర్ఎస్ పార్టీకి మెరుగైన ఫలితాలు వచ్చాయి.

2580 పైచిలుకు వార్డులకు ఎన్నికలు జరిగితే.. సుమారు 750 వార్డులు బీఆర్ఎస్ పార్టీ గెలిచింది.

గ్రామ పంచాయితీ ఎన్నికల్లో 40% స్థానాలు గెలుచుకున్నాం.. ఇప్పుడు 30% పైగా వార్డులు గెలుచుకున్నాం.

– బీఆర్ఎస్ వర్కింగ్… pic.twitter.com/D44y8eNC4G

— BRS Party (@BRSparty) February 13, 2026