Hyderabad, February 16 – Telangana's opposition BJP won control of the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation, while the ruling Congress party secured the mayoral seat in the Nizamabad Municipal Corporation with the support of AIMIM on Monday.
Kolagani Srinivas was elected as the first BJP Mayor of Karimnagar in a close contest.
The BJP, which emerged as the single largest party with 30 seats in the 66-member municipal body, reached the magic figure of 34 with the support of Independent corporators.
Y. Sunil Rao, also of the BJP, was elected as Deputy Mayor.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who was also an ex officio member, played a key role in securing the necessary support for the party to win the mayoral post.
The Congress party, which had only 14 members, could get the support of seven other corporators, including three from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which had secured nine seats, abstained from voting.
In a dramatic turn of events ahead of the election, five Independent corporators joined the Congress party on Sunday.
The ruling party also shifted its corporators and the Independents who joined it to Hyderabad as part of the strategy to deny the BJP the mayoral seat.
Although the BJP also emerged as the single largest party in the Nizamabad Municipal Corporation by winning 28 of the total 60 divisions, the party failed to reach the magic figure of 31.
The Congress party, which won 17 divisions, secured the Mayor's post with the support of AIMIM, which had secured 14 divisions. The lone corporator of BRS also supported the Congress party.
Uma Rani of Congress was elected as Mayor, while Salma Tahseen of AIMIM was elected as Deputy Mayor.
With this, Congress has taken control of five of the seven municipal corporations, elections for which were held on February 11, along with 116 municipalities across the state.
Elated over the BJP's victory in Karimnagar, Bandi Sanjay termed it a historic moment. "Today is not just a political victory. It is an emotional moment. It feels like a dream that many of us have quietly cherished for years. I bow my head to the voters who placed their trust in Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji's vision and chose development with dignity. From being a corporator, walking ward to ward, to standing here and watching a BJP Mayor take oath as the saffron flag flies over the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation, this is personal," he posted on 'X'.
The MoS stated that this victory belongs to every 'karyakarta' who gave their sweat and strength to this fight. "Those who faced pressure, threats, insults and still refused to bend, this day belongs to you. You did not just campaign. You carried belief on your shoulders. In the very ward where the Majlis party office stands, our karyakartas hoisted the saffron flag. That sight will stay with me forever. It speaks of courage. It speaks of change. Despite conspiracies, pressure tactics and every attempt to break our morale, BJP stood firm. We did not step back. We did not compromise. We said we will win. We did!" he added.
