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Telangana: BJP, TRS clash just day ahead of Munugode bypoll
The Congress has clarified it has no tie-up with TRS, despite its consecutive sub-par performance in state elections

Telangana: BJP, TRS clash just day ahead of Munugode bypoll

Nov 01, 2022
06:39 pm

What's the story

Multiple clashes erupted between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS)—recently renamed Bharat Rashtra Samithi—workers in Telangana in the last leg of campaigning for the Munugode bypoll. The police intervened and stopped the situation from escalating further. The Munugode Assembly constituency goes to polls on Thursday, which is said to be crucial as it could influence the Telangana Assembly elections next year.

Context

Why does this story matter?

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao launched his national party last month—changing the name of the TRS to Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS)—a move seen as a challenge to the nationwide hegemony of the BJP. The bye-election in Nalgonda district's Munugode constituency could decide the course of the state politics and is critical for the BRS as well as the opposition BJP and the Congress.

Information

Multiple clashes across the state

The BJP and the BRS cadres reportedly clashed, showering punches and canes in Munugode on Tuesday during the road show of BRS Chairperson and Telangana IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao (KCR's son). Separately, a brawl between the rival parties was reported also on Monday night at Choutuppal near Hyderabad when BJP candidate Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy's roadshow was obstructed by BRS workers.

Twitter Post

Both parties accused each other of starting violence

Twitter Post

Munugode is reportedly backward constituency where bye-election is scheduled

Details

BJP is on a winning streak

The Tuesday clash left BRS MLC P Rajeshwar Reddy, MLA Peddi Sudarshan Reddy, and Zila Parishad Chairman Jagadish, among others, injured. Notably, over 2.4L people are set to vote in the bye-election in the Munugode constituency. The BJP is on a winning streak in Telangana following wins in Dubbak and Huzurabad bypolls and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) election over the last two years.

Disqualification

BRS sought turncoat Reddy's disqualification

Last month, the BRS sought Komatireddy Raja Gopal Reddy's disqualification alleging he switched over to the BJP from the Congress after getting a coal mining contract worth Rs. 18,000 crore from the Centre. Reportedly, Reddy had claimed in a previous TV appearance that he has wanted to join the BJP for three years, while the contract was awarded to his company only recently.