Parties making serious efforts to capture in Karimnagar Corporation

Political parties are intensifying efforts to capture the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation, with leader poaching and frequent desertions adding drama after the municipal poll process began. Several local leaders have switched parties as surveys are used to identify winnable candidates

Karimnagar: Political parties are leaving no stone unturned to capture the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation, with poaching of leaders from other political parties intensifying after the municipal poll process began. With an eye on winning a majority of divisions, political parties are now identifying strong candidates with the help of various surveys.

Political desertions have become common, with all political parties declaring that only strong candidates will be fielded. The assertion that irrespective of seniority, only winning candidates would be selected has further added to the drama, with politicians switching parties at will.

---

A former corporator from 51st division Bandari Venu, former sarpanch of Vallampahad Sadineni Munindar and others joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar on January 14. A businessman from 42nd division Raghunatha Rao, along with a few others, joined the BRS on January 17, with local MLA Gangula Kamalakar welcoming them into the party.

In a surprising incident, a former corporator of 19th division Sudagoni Madhavi and her husband Krishna Goud changed two parties within twenty four hours. On Saturday, the couple joined the Congress in the presence of Karimnagar Assembly constituency in-charge Velchala Rajender Rao. However, the very next day, they issued a statement asserting that they had not joined the Congress party and that they were still in the BRS.

In a statement issued later, the couple maintained that Rajender Rao had come to their house during his visit to the locality. To honour the visiting guest, they felicitated him with a shawl and Rajender Rao also reciprocated by offering the Congress party scarf to them. Some of their opponents who were present at the spot had shot pictures and released them to the media claiming that they had joined the Congress party, the couple explained.