BJP backs out of Hyderabad local bodies election as BRS supports AIMIM candidate

BJP leader Chintala Ramachandra Reddy confirmed that the party has opted out of the Hyderabad local bodies constituency elections. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Telangana BJP has opted out of the Hyderabad local bodies constituency elections as the BRS has decided to extend support to the candidate fielded by the AIMIM.

On Tuesday, 21 February, the AIMIM announced Mirza Rahmath Baig as its candidate for the MLC seat.

@aimim_national Floor Leader @imAkbarOwaisi Sahab Along With Party Legislatures At GHMC Office Tank bund For Nomination Of MLC Candidate.#mlcelection2023 pic.twitter.com/rSmh7YqvSd

— Mirza Rahmat Baig (@_MirzaRahmath) February 23, 2023

Throwing in the hat

The BJP first thought of contesting the election but was later faced with a dilemma as to whether or not it should contest the election.

It finally decided to stay away from the polls in view of the changing political equations in the state.

At least 60 votes are required for any candidate to win, and no party has a majority. The AIMIM has 52 votes, while the BRS has 41 and the BJP has 25 votes.

BJP leader Chintala Ramachandra Reddy confirmed that the party had opted out of the Hyderabad local bodies constituency elections.

Also Read: KTR and Owaisi Jr review development plans for Old Hyderabad

Hitting out at BRS and AIMIM

Stating that the BRS won the Munugode Assembly constituency with the help of Communists, Telangana BJP vice-president NVSS Prabhakar alleged that both the BRS and the AIMIM had already entered into an agreement to jointly contest the next Assembly elections in the state.

The AIMIM would be contesting the election with the objective to help the BRS and ensure its candidates’ victory in the Assembly elections, he said.

Prabhakar recalled that AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi had already announced, during the recently-concluded Assembly budget session, that the AIMIM would contest in over 50 seats in the state.

He said that the BRS, the AIMIM and the Communists had decided to jointly contest the next elections.

GHMC కార్యాలయంలో నామినేషన్ దాఖలు చేసిన మహబూబ్ నగర్ – రంగారెడ్డి – హైదరాబాద్ ఉపాధ్యాయ నియోజకవర్గ ఎమ్మెల్సీ బిజెపి అభ్యర్థి శ్రీ ఎ.వి.ఎన్ రెడ్డి

చిత్రంలో @BJP4India ఉపాధ్యక్షురాలు శ్రీమతి @aruna_dk మాజీ ఎమ్మెల్సీ శ్రీ @N_RamchanderRao తదితరులు pic.twitter.com/OiudYfK6je

— BJP Telangana (@BJP4Telangana) February 23, 2023

BJP declared its candidates

The BJP candidate A Venkata Narayan Reddy has already filed nomination papers as the Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahbubnagar teachers’ constituency candidate.

Last week, the BJP declared AVN Reddy as its candidate for the elections in the Mahbubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad teachers’ constituency in the Telangana Legislative Council election, to be held on 13 March.

Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar gave his feedback to the party’s central leadership about Venkata Narayan Reddy’s selection, after which the name was officially announced.

Also Read: Will drive out AIMIM from Telangana in 8 months: Bandi Sanjay