Hyderabad: Irrigation and civil supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday said the winning streak of Congress, which started in the 2023 assembly polls, will continue, and expressed confidence that the party would win over 90% of the 123 urban local bodies for which polling was held on Wednesday. Vote counting is scheduled for Friday (February 13), with results to be announced the same day.Speaking to media persons after casting his vote in the Kodad municipality, Uttam said a massive victory in the municipal elections would consolidate Congress position in urban areas in the state and pave the way for its victory in the next assembly elections.Uttam said Congress would remain in power for a minimum of eight more years in Telangana, citing the support base it had built, and said it was assured of an overwhelming success in the next assembly elections. He said the Congress govt would shape Telangana into one of the top-performing states.He said the outcome of the municipal elections would strengthen the possibility of continued success. Referring to the party’s performance from the Dec 2023 assembly elections to the recent gram panchayat polls, he said no political party could be seen as a close rival to Congress.Uttam alleged that deliberate campaigns by opposition parties had no credibility and said people did not trust them. Quoting statewide polling trends, he said Congress would win over 90% of the urban local bodies and register a near-clean sweep in the 123 urban local bodies, including seven municipal corporations.He attributed what he described as a positive atmosphere to effective governance, welfare initiatives, development and transparent administration during the Congress govt’s two-year governance. He said opposition parties had tried to spread false allegations against the Congress govt, but people did not believe them, and urged them to desist from misinformation campaigns.Uttam said people had observed welfare schemes, including fine rice supply, free power and free bus rides for women, and said these had created a positive impact. He said municipal voters needed basic amenities and infrastructure upgrades.He said there would be substantial allocations under chief minister Revanth Reddy’s leadership for welfare initiatives, including Indiramma houses. He said the govt’s focus would be mainly on development and welfare.
