Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar along with the MLC-elect Malka Komaraiah participate in a rally to celebrate the latter’s victory in the Medak-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Karimnagar Teachers’ Constituency MLC election, in Karimnagar on Tuesday (March 4, 2025)
| Photo Credit: ANI
The ruling Congress has suffered a set back in the just concluded Telangana MLC polls to two Teachers’ constituencies and a Graduates’ constituency with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) backed candidates bagging two seats while a Teachers’ union candidate won the other seat.
The results should be a wake up call for the Congress party because a battery of Ministers and the Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy himself had campaigned for the party backed the candidate, Narender Reddy, from the Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak Graduates’ constituency holding three separate meetings last month to garner support for the nominee. The Congress party did not openly come out in support of the teachers constituencies candidates although it was understood that they had backed some candidates unofficially.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy addresses the gathering during the MLC election campaign meeting, in Mancherial. File
| Photo Credit:
ANI
Outcome would have been different if BRS contested
The results would have been different had the main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) entered the fray. For reasons best known to them, the BRS leadership preferred not to contest the polls. The outcome of the results has already generated a bitter war of words with the Congress accusing the BJP-BRS entering into an ‘unholy nexus’ while the BJP claiming that the popularity of the Congress party was on the wane and the leadership of Mr. Revanth Reddy has failed in the State.
For the record, Mr. Anji Reddy – backed by the BJP – won from the Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak Graduates’ constituency trouncing Mr. Narender Reddy, who was said to be strong candidate. Mr. Anji Reddy scrapped through with the second preference votes even as the Congress backed nominee insisted that the third preferential votes may also be taken into consideration, a demand turned down by the Election officials.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay with Anji Reddy who won from the Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak Graduates’ constituency
| Photo Credit:
By Arrangement
The BJP backed candidate for the Karimnagar-Nizamabad-Adilabad-Medak Teachers’ constituency Malka Komaraiah, chairperson of a reputed group of educational institutions in Hyderabad, humbled seasoned teacher union leaders including Vanga Mahender Reddy of the Progressive Recognised Teachers’ Union (TS) to make his political debut as an elected representative.
Malka Komaraiah
| Photo Credit:
By Arrangement
PRTU (TS) candidate Pingali Sripal Reddy won from the Nalgonda-Khammam-Warangal Teachers’ constituency defeating the sitting MLC A. Narsi Reddy as well as the BJP backed candidate Sarvotham Reddy.
The Teachers’ constituencies result has once again brought into sharp focus as to how the mainstream unions like the PRTU, State Teachers Union (STU) and the United Teachers Federation (UTF) have failed to win the confidence of the teachers. The BJP affiliated Telangana Teachers’ Association (TAPAS), though not very strong, had worked overtime to ensure the victory of Mr. Komaraiah.
Bandi credited for wins
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay is credited with scripting the two victories in Karimnagar district having stayed put in the district for 15 days. The BJP leaders maintain that he ensured that an in-charge was appointed for every 25 voters and extensively held meetings at district and parliamentary constituency levels with the voters. The failure of the BRS and the Congress to address the problems of teachers was the main focus of his campaign. Additionally, BJP sources acknowledged that Mr. Komaraiah’s willingness to spend financial resources, matching his rival Mr. Mahender Reddy, also contributed to the victory.
For the Congress party, introspection is the need of the hour as it is already on the defensive after the loss in the MLC polls. Adding to its discomfiture is the rebellion by now suspended MLC Chintapandu Naveen alias Teenmar Mallanna, whose open criticism has not gone down well withe party.
Tight rope walk for Cong in candidate selection for ensuing MLC polls
More trouble is in store for the party as the four MLC vacancies have to be filled up later this month. With dozens of aspirants, it is a tight rope walk for the leadership in selecting the right candidates balances the caste, seniority, loyalty and the popular support. With the new AICC in-charge for the State Meenakshi Natarajan making a strong pitch for the committed leaders to get recognition, it is to be seen how the party completes its process. It is also facing a tough time as the MIM and the CPI are demanding at least one seat each.
BRS fancies its chances in local bodies polls
The BRS on the other hand, having faced defeat in the State Assembly elections 2023, losing power and drawing a blank in the Lok Sabha polls, did not want to the put its prestige at stake. A loss in the Council polls would have put it at a disadvantage ahead of the ensuing local bodies polls where it fancies its chances of making dent into the Congress party’s chances. The party is banking on the demand for 42% reservations for the BC’s in the local bodies polls as its plank.
Local bodies polls will prove which party has popular support
The election to four MLC vacancies may come as a consolation for the Congress as it is confident of winning the three seats and ensure the victory in the fourth one. The BRS and the BJP may not be able to make impact in these four seats. However, all eyes would be on the local bodies polls whenever they are held as it will prove which party has the popular support among the voters.
Published – March 06, 2025 02:22 pm IST
