Congress a Major Force in May 27 Council Bypoll

Hyderabad: About 41,000 fewer voters have registered Monday’s byelection to the Legislative Council but that has not dimmed the enthusiasm of the parties that have been campaigning for their respective candidates. The outcome will be known on June 5.

The voter registration fell by 41,726 compared to the previous election. About 4.63 lakh voters, including 2.87 lakh men, are on the electoral rolls, compared to 5.04 lakh voters in 2021.

Prof. Kodandaram, speaking to Deccan Chronicle, attributed the decline in registrations to the timing of the bypoll. "The focus was mainly on Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. The continuous election cycle is the main reason for the decline in voter registration," he noted.

The political landscape has shifted since the 2021 MLC poll, with the Congress in power — and currently boasting of seven ministers among 31 MLAs (including Kadiam Srihari who defected from the BRS — and the BRS experiencing a decline in support. The BJP is boosted by winning eight Assembly seats and the prospect of a good show in the Lok Sabha elections.

The bypoll is a crucial test for the Congress to demonstrate its influence among educated voters after this Assembly polls victory. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is intensely focused on winning the seat. For the BRS, retaining the seat is vital amid recent setbacks, including defeat in the Assembly polls and the defection of senior leaders. A victory for the BJP would further solidify its growth in state politics.

The Congress has nominated Chintakalaya ‘Teenmaar Mallanna’ Naveen, who finished second in the 2021 MLC bypoll as an Independent and comes from the influential Munnuru Kapu community of the backward classes.

The BJP faces challenge contest as the MLC elections do not use party symbols: It’s candidate A. Rakesh Reddy is a former BJP spokesperson. BJP leaders focused their campaign on what they called the Congress government's unfulfilled promises and the achievements of the Narendra Modi administration.

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao urged voters to elect Rakesh Reddy, who returned home after completing his higher education in the US, and criticising Congress candidate Mallanna as a "blackmailer" due to his controversial YouTube channel and arrests during BRS rule.

Campaigning for the bypoll to the Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda graduates constituency, a high profile contest after the Lok Sabha polls. ends at 4 pm on Saturday. Counting of votes will be taken up on June 5.

The bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of BRS MLC Palla Rajeswar Reddy after his election as Jangaon MLA last year. There are 52 candidates in the fray. The winner will complete the remainder of the term till March 2027.

Bypoll factsheet

Campaign ends on Saturday for the Legislative Council graduates constituency bypoll.

Constituency spread: Warangal, Khammam and Nalgonda

Assembly segments: 34

2023 poll results

Congress: 30+1 (Kadiam Srihari)

BRS: 4

In the fray: 52 candidates

Main contenders: Chintakayala ‘Teenmaar Mallanna’ Naveen (Congress); A. Rakesh Reddy (BRS), G.P. Reddy (BJP)

MLC poll not contested on party symbols.

Campaign ends at 4 pm Saturday.

Counting of votes on June 5

Fewer voters

2024: 4.63 lakh

2021: 5,04,726

Why the bypoll: BRS MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy resigned after his election as Jangaon MLA.

2021: Palla Rajeshwar Reddy (BRS) winner by 12,801 votes, Teenmaar Mallanna (Ind.) second followed by Prof. M. Kodandaram (TJS) and Premender Reddy (BJP).