Hyderabad. Just before the mayor elections of Karimnagar Municipal Corporation, there was political turmoil. On Sunday, five councilors joined the ruling Congress, dealing a blow to the BJP’s power ambitions.
Two and three independent councilors from the All India Forward Bloc formally joined the Congress in the presence of Ministers of State Ponnam Prabhakar and D. Sridhar Babu. These include Sai Jyoti, who had joined BJP on Friday itself.
In the 66-member corporation, BJP has 30 seats, Congress has 14, BRS has 9, AIMIM has 3 and 10 independent seats. 34 votes are required for the post of Mayor, which includes ex-officio members.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar had increased the number to 34 by introducing four independents into the BJP. But Congress hit back. Withdrawn an independent, secured the support of AIMIM and also sought help from BRS.
With the five new members, the strength of the Congress increased to 31, which reached 33 with the ex-officio votes of the MLAs. One more vote is needed for majority. The councilors have been kept safe in a hotel in Hyderabad.
Even in Nizamabad Corporation, BJP is ahead with 28 divisions, but far from majority. Monday’s election will be decisive.
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