Telangana Elections 2023: In Warangal region, ruling BRS faces anti-incumbency against sitting MLAs

The results of the polls will be declared on December 3.

With the anti-incumbency vote gaining ground, a silent political turmoil within the ruling party is unfolding in Telangana as the assembly polls scheduled on November 30 set the political landscape with twists and turns as key players grapple with challenges and make strategic moves.

Will the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) spring a surprise and turn the tide once again or will the Congress consolidate its recent resurgence? Only the last two weeks of political strategies and campaigning will reveal.

The BRS, under the leadership of K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), finds itself facing a wave of discontent, despite continuing its welfare initiatives such as Dalit Bandhu and KCR kits. Corruption allegations at the constituency level and criticism of single-family domination have troubled the party, providing an opportunity for opposition parties, particularly the Congress, to exploit the growing dissatisfaction among the people.

“All the schemes worked well last time around. But BRS is increasingly seen as a family rule. Youngsters are keen on getting jobs. So real issues will prove crucial in this election,” said Surya Rao, a teacher in Warangal.

Congress’s prospects

The Grand Old Party has been relatively stronger in the west of the state, comprising the districts of Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam, Mahabubabad, Hanumakonda and Warangal Rural. Of the 12 seats from the undivided Warangal, voters elected 10 BRS candidates in 2018 while only one ruling party lawmaker was elected from the 10 seats in the erstwhile Khammam district. Congress is looking to consolidate these seats. In the former undivided Khammam district, the significance of the five seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST), Bhadrachalam, Aswaraopeta, Wyra, Yellandu, and Pinapaka, and the two reserved seats for Scheduled Castes (SC), Madhira and Sattupalli, cannot be overstated.

Despite a prevailing pro-BRS sentiment in 2014 and 2018, voters in these constituencies exhibited a distinct voting pattern from the one seen across the state. “BRS has looted Telangana. Now the Congress is coming like a Tsunami and we will implement all the ‘guarantees’ within 100 days of our coming to power,” said the 62-year-old Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, the Congress strongman from Madhira SC constituency, who is looking for his fourth win.

In the preceding elections, the Congress secured victories in the Pinapaka, Yellandu, Madhira, and Bhadrachalam seats, while Aswaraopeta and Satthupalli were claimed by the TDP. The Wyra seat, on the other hand, was won by an independent candidate. Though subsequently a majority of these elected representatives chose to align themselves with the BRS, Congress is banking on an increased vote share this time around. “No party won three consecutive times, even in the undivided state. But even Congress is dominated by Reddys. But it is much better for the two parties. So most of us are supporting Congress,” said Santoshi, a transgender who works as a health worker.

Ground-level realities indicate that a majority of the sitting BRS MLAs are encountering strong anti-incumbency sentiments in their respective constituencies. Surprisingly, KCR has chosen to retain over 90 percent of these MLAs, navigating against the political headwinds.

Poll promises rain

In response to the unfolding scenario, the Congress has unveiled six guarantees for the people of Telangana, aiming to capitalise on the discontent and present a compelling alternative, in line with the sops given in Karnataka.

In a bid to secure voter support, the BRS has announced a slew of promises in its manifesto, including increased benefits for ration card holders, enhanced life insurance coverage, and higher pensions for various categories. Banking on its narrative of popular welfare schemes and developmental projects, the ruling party is gearing up for a tough fight and needs to quickly arrest the waning popularity if it seeks a third term.

BJP’s prospects

Meanwhile, the BJP, once considered a front runner, is grappling with internal challenges. The change of guard in the state, with Sanjay replaced by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, has thrown the party astray. Key leaders, including Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, G Vivekanand, and Enugu Ravinder, have resigned from the BJP. The latest is actress Vijayashanthi, who too just resigned from the BJP and joined the Congress.

“A couple of months back one thought BJP would give a strong fight to BRS. But now suddenly Congress has become the main opponent. BRS might not win as many seats but it looks like it will still form the government for a third time,” said Jagadeesha, an auto driver, who hails from Bidar in the Karnataka-Hyderabad region but settled in Warangal for the last eight years.

Electoral issues

However, the elections are not only about promises; issues like irregularities in government job exams have taken centre stage. The delay and controversies surrounding the state's public service examinations, including the cancellation of the Group-1 preliminary examination by the Telangana High Court, have become focal points of the electoral discourse. With government job notifications after a four-year hiatus, the hurdles in conducting fair exams have become a significant concern for the electorate. The results of the polls will be declared on December 3.