Hyderabad: Despite Congress making efforts to get its candidate elected, the BJP managed to win the chairperson post with the support of the BRS, whose candidate was elected vice-chairperson, in Khanapur municipality elections in Nirmal district on Sunday.The election was held on Sunday after it was postponed on Saturday due to disruptions during the process.BJP candidate Ankam Mounika was elected chairperson, while BRS candidate Mohd Shoaib was elected vice-chairperson.“Despite misuse of power by Congress and undemocratic tactics, the lotus still bloomed in Khanapur,” said BJP state chief N Ramchander Raowhile congratulating Nirmal MLA Alleti Maheshwar Reddy, district president Ritesh Rathod and BJP karyakartas for the “hard-fought” victory.In a post on X, Rao said, “This triumph is truly special because it came in the face of every undemocratic tactic employed by the Congress MLA to try and stop the BJP. Yet, our dedicated karyakartas stood firm, and the lotus bloomed with pride.”Out of 12 councillors’ votes, the winning candidates secured seven. In the elections conducted in Feb, out of 12 wards, BJP and BRS candidates won four each, Congress won three, and one was won by an independent candidate.Congress MLA Vedma Bhojju took part in the election as an ex-officio member.“In every aspect, officials called Congress first, followed by other parties. But when calling for votes for chairperson, they called BJP candidate Ankam Mounika first, going by alphabetical order, to prove her majority without explaining the rules to us beforehand. This created confusion, and candidates who had assured us they would give silent votes mistakenly raised their hands. In fact, they even raised their hands when our candidate’s name was called next, which was also recorded on video. This is the reason why I had to stall the process yesterday and even reached the podium demanding verification of the video footage, which our opponents refused,” Bhojju told TOI.He, however, alleged that because of BJP and BRS coercion of candidates last night, Congress silent votes went to the BJP candidate on Sunday.“Initially, there was no alliance. But now the bonhomie between the BJP and BRS is open. They did not win this election fair and square,” he said.
