The Hyderabad mayor's switch of allegiance is anticipated to boost the Congress party, particularly after its failure to secure any seats in the Assembly elections within the Greater Hyderabad region, which constitutes 24 MLAs.
After a series of confidential discussions with AICC Telangana
representative Deepa Dasmunsi, GHMC Mayor Gadwal Vijayalaxmi officially
switched her allegiance to the Congress party on Saturday, March 30, following
her recent departure from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Deepa Dasmunsi,
along with Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, warmly welcomed her into
the party during a formal ceremony.
Her father, the esteemed BRS MP K Keshava Rao, is set to follow suit
shortly, with plans for his induction into the party slated to occur in the
presence of former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi. This move by the Hyderabad mayor is
poised to provide a significant boost to the Congress, particularly in light of
its failure to secure any seats in the Assembly elections within the Greater
Hyderabad region, which comprises 24 MLAs.
During the previous GHMC elections in 2020, the BRS emerged as the
dominant party, clinching 55 out of 150 wards, while the BJP emerged as the
primary opposition with 48 seats, and AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi secured 44
wards. In stark contrast, the Congress party managed to secure only two wards.
Vijayalaxmi, who represents the Banjara Hills ward as a corporator,
ascended as the first female Mayor following the establishment of Telangana
state. Justifying her decision to join the Congress, she emphasized the
potential for smoother execution of development projects when the Mayor aligns
with the ruling party.
Keshava Rao, who had been associated with the Congress for 55 years,
transitioned to the BRS in 2013 and was twice appointed to the Rajya Sabha. He
conveyed his decision to return to the Congress to BRS president and former
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
This move by Keshava Rao and his daughter marks yet another setback for
the BRS, which relinquished power to the Congress in the November 30, 2023
elections. The BRS has experienced the departure of several leaders, including
five incumbent MPs and one MLA, who have shifted their allegiance to either the
Congress or the BJP.
In another significant blow to the BRS, its leader and MLA Kadiyam
Srihari, along with his daughter Kadiyam Kavya, who opted out of contesting as
a BRS candidate for the Warangal Lok Sabha seat, have also decided to sever ties
with the party. Deepa Dasmunshi and other leaders met them in Hyderabad on
Friday and extended an invitation for them to join the Congress party. Srihari,
the former Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana, expressed his intention to
consult with his followers before making a decision.
Highlighting a range of factors contributing to the diminishing impact
of the party, Srihari stressed the importance of reevaluating their position.
"With people increasingly disengaging from the BRS for diverse reasons,
it's imperative for us to reposition ourselves if we aim to effectively address
the needs of the public and enact meaningful change within the
constituency," he commented.