BJP delivers significant blow to Congress in Telangana MLC elections

Hyderabad: In a closely contested electoral battle, the BJP secured a remarkable victory by winning two out of three Members of the Legislative Council (MLC) seats in Telangana, dealing a substantial blow to the ruling Congress party in the state.

The Graduates MLC constituency, spanning 42 Assembly segments and comprising over 355,159 voters, is a critical battleground that potentially reflects the sentiment of the state's educated electorate.

BJP candidate Ch Anji Reddy emerged victorious against Congress candidate V Narender Reddy in a nail-biting contest that concluded on Wednesday.

Of the 252,029 total votes cast, 223,343 were deemed valid. The winning threshold required securing a simple majority in first-preference votes, set at 111,672 votes.

Initial vote tallies in first preference vote counting showed Anji Reddy polling 75,675 votes, Narender Reddy securing 70,565 votes, and BSP candidate Prasanna Harikrishna receiving 60,419 votes. BRS stayed away from contesting. When no candidate crossed the winning quota in the first preference vote counting round, the counting proceeded to second-preference votes, ultimately declaring Anji Reddy the winner eliminating the other two contenders of Congress and BSP.

Union Minister and Telangana BJP unit chief G Kishan Reddy highlighted the significance of the victory, emphasizing it as a clear indication of the party's growing popularity. He noted that the BJP's success in winning two MLC seats, including one in the teachers' category, demonstrates increasing public support and growing dissatisfaction with the current state government.

This election comes just over a year after the Congress party's decisive victory in the state Assembly polls, making the BJP's performance particularly grabbing the attention. Both Anji Reddy and Narender Reddy, interestingly, operate educational institutions in the region.

“The victory of BJP candidate Anji Reddy from the Adilabad-Nizamabad-Karimnagar-Medak Graduates' Constituency, along with the election of teacher Malka Komurayya as an MLC from the same constituency, is a matter of immense pride. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the intellectuals, graduates, and all party workers who worked tirelessly to achieve this success," said Kishan Reddy.

"Across any election in the state, people from all walks of life, starting from intellectuals, are increasingly showing support for the BJP. This victory stands as a testament to the BJP's emergence as a formidable alternative political force in Telangana. Despite the numerous conspiracies and attempts at mudslinging by the ruling and opposition parties through false propaganda, the people of Telangana have stood firmly behind the BJP. The party's success in winning two out of three MLC seats, with the teachers' community also securing a victory in another seat, exemplifies the growing dissatisfaction with the current government and the increasing support for the BJP,” he added.