BJP courts turncoat BRS corporators for poll win

Hyderabad: Despite lacking the numbers in the Hyderabad local authorities MLC elections, the BJP is hopeful of a strong performance, banking on cross-voting from other parties. According to sources, BJP leaders are actively engaging with corporators who had earlier switched from BJP to BRS, as the latter has decided to stay away from the contest.
While the BJP does not have the required strength to win on its own, it has opted to contest the seat against the AIMIM. "We are reaching out to leaders from other parties, urging them to come together to defeat AIMIM," a senior BJP leader said.
There are 112 voters in the fray. AIMIM currently holds 49 votes, BJP 25, Congress 14, and BRS 24. With the winning threshold at 57 votes, even AIMIM falls short and is banking on Congress support to reach a projected total of 63. The BRS, led by working president KT Rama Rao, has announced its decision to abstain from the election, creating space for the BJP to try its luck.
With the GHMC elections slated for later this year, the BJP sees the MLC election as a crucial warm-up. In 2020, the party came close to winning the mayoral seat and is determined to go further this time. BJP state president and Union minister G Kishan Reddy and MLC candidate Goutham Rao have been holding a series of strategy meetings in preparation. The BJP's surprise win of over 40 seats in the 2020 GHMC elections had propelled the party into the national spotlight.
Meanwhile, KTR has warned BRS corporators against cross-voting, stating that a whip will be issued and any violations will invite serious consequences.
Although the mayor's seat in Greater Hyderabad was held by the BRS before the assembly elections, several corporators, including the mayor, have since defected to the Congress following the party's rise to power. With a reduced presence in the GHMC and little hope of winning, BRS has formally withdrawn from the local body election.