No clear majority in Kothagudem, BRS–CPI alliance on cards

The Kothagudem Municipal Corporation delivered a hung verdict with Congress and CPI winning 22 divisions each, BRS eight, independents six, and BJP one.

Kothagudem: Politics in Kothagudem has turned interesting as no political party gained a clear majority to secure the Kothagudem Municipal Corporation mayor and deputy mayor posts.

The Congress party, which parted ways with CPI before elections thus undermining the pre-poll alliance they had in the Assembly elections, fought the elections with support from the CPI (M). CPI fought the election with support from TDP.

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Both the Congress and the CPI won from 22 municipal divisions, BRS in eight divisions, independents in six divisions while BJP won in one division in the results announced on Friday leading to a hung council.

A majority of 31 corporators was required to win the mayor post and to control the municipal corporation. Congress MPs R Raghuram Reddy and Renuka Chowdhary, CPI MLA K Sambasiva Rao, BRS Rajya Sabha members Vaddiraju Ravichandra and Bandi Parthasaradhi Reddy as well as local bodies MLC Tata Madhusudhan could vote in the mayor election as ex-officio members in case their votes were required.

Meanwhile, BRS working president KT Rama Rao’s statement in Hyderabad that the party would support the CPI to win the mayoral election has turned the tables in favour of the CPI. Party MLA Sambasiva Rao confirmed that he received a phone call from Rama Rao regarding the party support to CPI.

It was rumoured that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also called Sambasiva Rao asking him to continue the alliance between the CPI and Congress in Kothagudem to win the mayor seat. Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao was also said to be holding talks with the CPI. But there was no official confirmation from the CPI regarding this.

When last reports came in, the CPI leadership had shifted the elected corporators to a camp to guard them from possible allurements from Congress party, which was desperate to win the Kothagudem mayor seat.

CPI State secretary Sambasiva Rao had on Wednesday alleged that he was being subjected to insults by Congress leaders in recent times. He said he remained calm in view of his cordial relations with Revanth Reddy.

The political circles in the district were abuzz with debates over the CPI’s decision; whether it would go with the Congress or accept the BRS offer to win the mayor seat.