The political chessboard in Telangana’s Karimnagar Municipal Corporation shifted dramatically on Sunday as five councillors ditched their previous affiliations to join Congress, intensifying the race for mayor ahead of Monday’s crucial vote.
State ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and D. Sridhar Babu oversaw the induction of two AIFB members and three independents. Among them, AIFB’s Sai Jyoti, fresh from a BJP switch on Friday, realigned with Congress, underscoring the fluid loyalties in local politics.
BJP, the single largest party with 30 seats in the 66-member body, saw its momentum stall. Congress (14 seats), BRS (9), AIMIM (3), and independents (10) set the stage for intense horse-trading. The magic number for mayor is 34 votes, factoring in ex-officio members.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay had engineered BJP’s position at 34 by absorbing four independents, including his ex-officio influence. Congress retaliated by poaching one back, gaining AIMIM support, and courting BRS. The latest defections elevate Congress to 31 seats, plus two ex-officio votes for 33.
Desperate for that final push, Congress has housed its flock in a Hyderabad hotel to prevent poaching. Echoing this turmoil, BJP leads Nizamabad Corporation with 28 divisions but grapples for a majority there too.
This whirlwind of defections highlights the razor-thin margins defining Telangana’s urban local body elections, with Karimnagar poised for a nail-biting finish.