Hyderabad: In a high-stakes battle for control of urban local bodies, political tensions spilled onto the streets across Telangana on Monday as Congress and BRS scrambled to capture key chairperson posts in municipalities.Protests, scuffles, allegations of poaching and even missing councillors forced the Telangana State Election Commission to defer elections in 11 municipalities, underscoring the razor-thin margins and intense rivalry shaping the post-poll power struggle.
While the SEC conducted election meetings in 123 municipalities and municipal corporations, the process was completed in 112. Polls to chairperson and deputy chairperson posts in 11 civic bodies were postponed due to law and order concerns, lack of quorum and internal disputes within parties over candidates.Fresh polling in these municipalities — Thorrur, Ibrahimpatnam, Jangaon, Kagaznagar, Sultanabad, Yellandu, Kyathanpally, Khanapur, Zaheerabad, Dornakal and Indresham — is likely to be held on Tuesday. Tension in ThorrurTension was particularly high in Thorrur municipality of Mahabubabad district, where Congress and BRS were locked in a neck-and-neck contest. With ex-officio members included, both sides claimed an edge. Of the 16 wards, Congress won 7 and BRS secured 9. The BRS objected to the registration of Warangal MP Kadiyam Kavya as an ex-officio member, alleging she was not eligible to register as a voter under the rules, and submitted a complaint to the municipal commissioner. Former minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao, accompanied by BRS councillors, demanded that the election be conducted, claiming the party had a clear majority and quorum was present. Congress leaders, including Palakurthy MLA Yashaswini Reddy, also reached the municipal office with party workers, triggering slogan-shouting and a minor scuffle. Police resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse the crowd, after which authorities postponed the election. Poaching accusationsIn Ibrahimpatnam, the election was deferred amid accusations and counter-accusations of councillor poaching. Of the 24 seats, BRS held 13, Congress 8, BJP 2 and one was an independent, with Malreddy Ranga Reddy as an ex-officio member. A BRS councillor, Yadagiri, was reported missing and did not attend the meeting, prompting concern from family members. After a brief postponement and a minor clash between party leaders, officials deferred the election to Tuesday.At Jangaon, a dispute over independent councillors — seen as kingmakers — led to heated confrontations, with rival parties accusing each other of kidnapping independents. Authorities postponed the election citing an untenable situation.Bhainsa smooth rideIn Dornakal, Indresham and Zaheerabad, elections were deferred due to lack of quorum. In Dornakal, the ruling party reportedly asked its councillors to abstain amid internal competition for the top post. In Indresham and Zaheerabad, both Congress and BRS stayed away while trying to secure support from independents and rival councillors. In contrast, communally sensitive Bhainsa saw a rare consensus outcome. With no party securing a majority — AIMIM won 12 of 26 wards, BJP 6, independents 7 and Congress 1 — all parties backed independent candidates Thumolla Dattatri and Bibi Qutija Siddiqua as chairperson and vice-chairperson, respectively.
