Official data debunks ‘clean sweep’ claims of Congress in Telangana municipal polls
Official data from the State Election Commission show the Congress secured 39 per cent vote share in Telangana municipal polls, with 61 per cent of voters backing other parties. The figures challenge claims of a clean sweep and highlight a competitive electoral landscape.
Hyderabad: Official statistics released by the State Election Commission have debunked attempts by certain sections of the media to project the Telangana municipal elections as a clean sweep for the Congress, clearly showing that the party secured only around 39 per cent vote share overall, far from a landslide across the State. With nearly 61 per cent of voters opting for parties other than the Congress, the ‘clean sweep’ claim has been proved to be mere lip service by Congress-affiliated media.
The official figures nullify attempts to project the BJP as having put up a ‘strong performance’ as well. They also stand in sharp contrast to claims aired by a particular media house, which projected the BJP’s vote share at 25 per cent and the BRS at just 15 per cent. The Election Commission data clearly show that the BJP’s overall vote share in municipalities and corporations combined was 16 per cent, not 25 per cent, while the BRS secured 29 per cent, nearly double the figure being circulated.
Even in municipalities alone, the BRS maintained a robust 32 per cent vote share, underscoring that the contest remained largely between the Congress and the BRS in several urban local bodies, with the BJP remaining a distant third force in most areas.
According to the consolidated figures for municipalities and municipal corporations combined, the Congress polled 14,76,746 votes, translating into a vote share of 39 per cent. The BRS secured 10,74,518 votes with a 29 per cent share, while the BJP garnered 5,82,279 votes, accounting for 16 per cent. AIMIM secured 1,12,817 votes, or 3 per cent, with others together accounting for around 11 per cent of the total votes polled. The combined grand total of votes polled in municipalities and corporations stood at 37,14,797.
When results for municipalities alone are considered, the Congress polled 11,22,260 votes, securing a 41 per cent vote share. The BRS followed with 8,64,209 votes and a 32 per cent share, while the BJP received 3,73,773 votes, or 14 per cent. Independents accounted for 8 per cent, AIMIM 2 per cent, with smaller parties such as AIFB, CPI and CPM registering marginal shares. The grand total of votes polled in municipalities stood at 27,20,204.
Interestingly, a comparison of the two datasets shows that vote shares for major parties are generally higher when municipalities alone are considered and dip slightly once figures from municipal corporations are added to the overall tally. The Congress vote share, for instance, stands at 41 per cent in municipalities but settles at 39 per cent in the combined count. The BRS registers 32 per cent in municipalities, which comes down to 29 per cent overall, while the BJP rises from 14 per cent in municipalities to 16 per cent in the combined figures. AIMIM’s share increases from 2 per cent in municipalities to 3 per cent when corporations are included.
Political observers point out that while the Congress may have secured an edge in terms of seats in several urban local bodies, the vote share data indicate a competitive electoral landscape rather than an overwhelming sweep. With around 61 per cent of voters opting for parties other than the Congress in the combined tally, the narrative of a clean sweep does not withstand scrutiny.
