Patancheru turncoat MLA Mahipal Reddy’s followers at crossroads ahead of civic polls

Supporters of Patancheru MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy are worried ahead of municipal elections as he remains distant from both Congress and BRS. Aspirants fear lack of party symbols may weaken their prospects in a contest dominated by the two major parties.

Sangareddy: Close followers of Patancheru MLA Gudem Mahipal Reddy find themselves at a political crossroads as their leader is perceived to be moving closer to neither the Congress nor the BRS ahead of the upcoming municipal elections. His associates, aspiring to contest from five municipalities and nine GHMC divisions in the Patancheru constituency, fear they may not secure adequate voter support unless they contest on either the Congress or BRS party symbol.

With the electoral contest in the five municipalities expected to be primarily between the Congress and the BRS, both of which have a strong base in the region, the aspirants have been pressing Mahipal Reddy to move closer to the BRS ahead of the polls. The municipal and GHMC elections are being contested on party symbols, further increasing the pressure on the MLA from his supporters.

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Mahipal Reddy, who has won from the Patancheru constituency for three consecutive terms, had switched loyalties to the Congress after his last victory, prompting the BRS to file a disqualification petition against him in the Assembly. Although he later attempted to rejoin the BRS by consulting the party leadership, he reportedly did not receive a favourable response from the party’s top brass.

During a recent meeting of his close associates in Patancheru, Mahipal Reddy called upon them to support BRS candidates in the municipal elections. However, this was widely seen as an attempt to secure B-forms for his associates from the BRS. The party has already appointed V Adarsh Reddy as its constituency in-charge to lead the campaign during the elections.

On the Congress side, the responsibility for the constituency has been entrusted to Kata Srinivas Goud and Neelam Madhu Mudiraj, both known as political rivals of Mahipal Reddy. Political observers in Patancheru say there is little chance of Mahipal Reddy fielding his associates as independent panels in the five municipalities.

As the election schedule draws closer, his associates are increasingly worried that they may lose the opportunity to contest this time.