Telangana GP elections: BRS scores key wins as Congress faces multiple setbacks

The second phase of gram panchayat elections in Telangana saw several Congress Ministers and MLAs facing setbacks in their native villages, with BRS-backed candidates registering victories. Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy’s influence waned in Khammam as Army Ravi won the sarpanch post, while Devarkadra MLA G. Madhusudhan Reddy and Dornakal MLA Ramchander Naik also saw defeats in their villages.

Hyderabad: The message is loud and clear. As in the first phase, several followers, close associates and relatives of Congress Ministers and MLAs suffered defeats in the second phase of Gram Panchayat elections conducted across the State on Sunday.

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy faced a setback in Khammam district. In Suddavagu Thanda, BRS backed Banoth Ravi, popularly known as Army Ravi, won the Sarpanch post with a majority of 133 votes. Ravi had recently attempted suicide, accusing harassment by the Minister and local police. After recovering, he contested the Sarpanch election and won comfortably.

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At Devarkadra MLA G. Madhusudhan Reddy’s native village of Damagnapur under Chinna Chintakunta mandal, BRS supported candidate Sai Kiran Yadav registered a victory with a majority of 500 votes.

Similarly, Dornakal MLA and Government Whip Ramchander Naik suffered a setback in his native Reddykunta Thanda village, where Congress backed candidate Banoth Shanti lost to BRS supported candidate Yamuna.

Likewise, Palakurthy MLA Yashaswini Reddy also faced a reversal when Congress rebel candidate D. Mahender won the Sarpanch election in her native Charlapally village of Thorur mandal.
Despite complaints of money and muscle power being used by the ruling Congress party during the elections, BRS candidates emerged victorious in several villages.

In the second phase of Gram Panchayat elections, polling was conducted for 3,911 Sarpanches and 29,903 ward members. The State Election Commission had notified elections for 4,333 Sarpanches and 38,322 ward member posts. Of these, 415 Sarpanches and 8,304 ward members were elected unanimously.
In many places, the contests were intense, with candidates winning by wafer thin margins.

At Pothangal Kurd village in Kamareddy district, independent candidate Santosh won the Sarpanch election by a margin of just one vote. Similarly, at Pathareddy Gudem village in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, U. Venkata Ramana won with a margin of two votes, according to reports.