BRS Working President KT Rama Rao alleged that even the state government in Telangana is a joint venture between the Congress and BJP.
Published Jan 08, 2026 | 12:26 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 08, 2026 | 12:26 AM
BJP and Congress allying at the local level is not new in Indian politics.
Synopsis: BJP and Congress making strange bedfellows to grab power is not new in Indian politics. The political rivals had forged such alliances in two Telangana municipalities to keep TRS — now BRS — out of power.
Even as the BJP, Congress and the AIMIM reportedly joining hands to secure power in Maharashtra’s Ambernath Municipal Council made headlines on Wednesday, 7 January, BRS working president KT Rama Rao said such an alliance was not new in India.
While Congress claimed “rebel candidates” had forged an alliance without party’s consent and will face action, in a post on X, KT Rama Rao said both parties had formed such alliances in two municipalities in Telangana, making them strange bedfellows.
“And even now in Telangana, the state Govt is an unofficial JV Govt of both INC and BJP,” he posted.
Six years ago, in January, Manikonda, a 20-ward IT hub in the Rangareddy district near Hyderabad, saw no party gaining a clear majority. Congress won eight seats, BJP secured six, TRS (now BRS) got five, and one seat went to an independent.
Local Congress and BJP leaders negotiated a post-election understanding to keep TRS out of power. The alliance was motivated by local grievances, particularly acute water shortages, where TRS was perceived as ineffective.
The BJP later clarified that the deal was handled by local leaders without state-level involvement, emphasising it was for municipal development only and not a broader political tie-up. On 27 January 2020, the alliance elected Kasturi Narender of the Congress as Chairperson and BJP’s Kondakalla Narender Reddy as the Vice-Chairperson. This denied TRS any top posts.
This may be news for you Rajdeep
Congress and BJP together formed Municipal Councils in two Municipalities in Telangana almost 5 years ago; Makthal and Manikonda
And even now in Telangana the state Govt is an unofficial JV Govt of both INC and BJP https://t.co/VgtHXTCA3w
— KTR (@KTRBRS) January 7, 2026
In Narayanpet’s Makthal municipality, the BJP emerged as the strongest opponent to the TRS, but lacked an outright majority. An independent councillor reportedly joined the BJP post-election, bolstering their position.
Congress councillors provided crucial support to the BJP candidate during the chairperson election on 27 January 2020, as part of a local understanding to counter the TRS. The BJP captured the municipality, with Balchedu Pavani (BJP) elected as Chairperson and Akila Rajashekhar Reddy (BJP) as Vice-Chairperson. Congress’s support was key to securing the votes needed for these positions.
Meanwhile, the Ambernath incident has embarrassed the state-level leaders of both parties. Sachin Sawant of the Congress dispelled reports of the alliance, said to be forged to sideline the Shiv Sena, an NDA ally, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
However, while rejecting an alliance with the BJP, Sawant said various political parties came together in Ambernath to fight against Shiv Sena’s “corruption”.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued a stern warning to BJP leaders, saying an alliance with the Congress and AIMIM violated party discipline and would invite strict disciplinary action.
