BJP's win in Dubbaka bypoll creates tremors in Telangana politics

Though it was a bypoll to only one Assembly seat, BJP's win in Dubbaka has marked a significant change in Telangana's politics. The Congress, which was considered the sole opposition to the ruling TRS now has competition in the form of the BJP.

Hyderabad:The result of Dubbaka by-election, where the BJP scored an important political win over the ruling TRS, has created tremors in Telangana state politics.

Enthused with the victory, the BJP cadre proclaimed that they would hoist the saffron flag on the Golkonda fort too. The TRS, which could not retain the seat it was holding, has fallen into deep retrospection. They are readying themselves for corrective measures after reviewing deeply the reasons for the defeat. Congress is slackened, unable to even to retain the deposit.

The BJP is drawing strategies to garner victory in the forthcoming Assembly election too. Enthused by the victory in the keen contest in Dubbaka, BJP is in euphoria. It expressed its confidence that it would also emerge victorious in the forthcoming GHMC elections and also the Graduates' MLC Constituency.

BJP's victory in Dubbaka is also going to make a deep impact on the state politics. On the one hand, canvassing that Dubbaka has not been developed on par with Sircilla, Gajwel, Siddipet; being the only educated person among the three contestants, and the struggle that he had made for local problems, have worked in BJP candidate Raghunandan Rao's favour.

Further, the obstacles created by the police, also worked in favour of Raghunandan. BJP announced their candidate much ahead of TRS and Congress and also commenced its campaign much earlier. BJP workers carried on with extensive campaigning voluntarily on the field. As part of their campaign, they highlighted 'anti-public policies' of TRS and highlighted the welfare schemes introduced by the central government.

BJP had appointed former MP Jitender Reddy as the in-charge for Dubbaka bye-election and for every Mandal, senior leaders were appointed. The committee periodically coordinated with one another and conducted canvassing. Raghunandan stood by the villagers who have not received the compensation for the flood waters of Mallanna Sagar. The villagers, who were extremely angry with the ruling party, thought Raghunandan would support their cause and relay their voice in the assembly and question the government.

Read:Telangana BJP chief says people oppose TRS regime

Further, the visits and canvassing of Union Minister Kishan Reddy, MPs Dharmapuri Aravind, Soyam Bapu Rao, Party president Bandi Sanjay, DK Aruna and sitting MLA Raja Singh too showed its influence. They created a feeling that BJP is the only alternative to the party in power. In addition to party leaders, youth also voluntarily canvassed in large scale.

Setback for TRS

With the unexpected defeat in Dubbaka, the TRS is in a state of shock. Overconfidence, inability to retaliate BJP's vigorous campaign, another independent candidate in the fray with a similar election symbol, and dissatisfaion in the cadres – these were the factors that led to the defeat of TRS. Further, the inexperience of the party candidate and dissatisfaction among Mallanna Sagar flood-affected villagers were also reasons for the nemesis.

Also subsequent to state formation, TRS has been registering landslide victories in all bye-elections. TRS was overconfident that history would repeat even in Dubbaka and swung into the fray. First, they under-estimated the bye-election. The party thought that by fielding Sujatha, wife of late MLA Solipeta Ramalinga Reddy, there will be a sympathy factor.

Read:Telangana govt involved in flood-relief scam: Congress

Nagaraju who was in fray with Chapati roller symbol, stood in 4th place with 3,750 votes, after BJP, TRS and Congress. TRS leaders maintain that some voted for Nagaraju instead of voting for the Car symbol. TRS felt that even with a depleted majority, victory is definitely theirs. In addition, local issues have had their influence.

Congress Humiliated

Congress Party has received a heavy blow in Dubbaka bye-elections. Congress leaders went into a deep depression as the party could not even retain the deposit. Since Dubbaka election results are likely to have an influence on future elections, there is introspection within the Congress.

The Congress Party had so far been maintaining that it is the only alternative for the TRS. The Congress Party which did not take BJP seriously, carried out all of its campaigning targetting the ruling TRS.

Since it was the first election subsequent to Manickam Tagore taking over as the Congress' Telangana in-charge, the leadership of state Congress Party took it prestigiously. PCC, CLP leader, working presidents, senior leaders – all were appointed as Mandal in-charge persons. They carried out campaigning in the field level and tried to focus on the failures of state and central governments.

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While the Congress party was hunting for a strong candidate, Cheruku Sreenivasa Reddy joined the party with his dissatisfaction with the TRS. Immediately, he was announced as the party candidate and started intense canvassing. For about 20 days, most of the Congress state-level machinery camped there and campaigned.

If we review the performance of Congress party in the past four elections of Dubbaka – from 2009 to 2020, Cheruku Mutyam Reddy got 52,989 votes in 2009 with 37.18 % vote share and achieved victory. Subsequent to Telangana State formation – both in 2014 and 2018, Congress Party got defeated. In 2014, and in 2018, Congress Party's vote share fell to 28.75% and 16.31% respectively. Congress, which has been losing percentage of votes progressively, has got only 13.47% votes in this by-election, and could not even retain the deposit.