HYDERABAD: The BSP, which did not boast of any substantial presence in Munugode constituency, finished at an enviable fourth place in the by-election, whose results were declared on Sunday. It polled 4,045 votes.
While campaigning aggressively, the state leadership under R.S. Praveen Kumar was able to cut into the Congress vote bank representing SCs and STs. The former IPS officer campaigned for Andoju Shankara Chary, a BC, covering almost every village. Besides this, the party's young cadre of 28 was able to reach out to the voters.
It should be noted that in the 2014 and 2018 elections, BSP’s vote share did not cross even one per cent having received 1,084 (0.63%) and 738 (0.37%) respectively.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Praveen Kumar said "Despite the money and liquor temptations doled out by the other contenders, we were able to cross the 4,000 vote mark and stood in fourth position. We swear by clean politics and this election is a lesson for us. There is a significant increase in the people supporting us in the State. We respect the judgement of the people."
