Telangana: BJP, TRS clash just day ahead of Munugode bypoll
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.
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.
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.
Both parties accused each other of starting violence
Munugode is reportedly backward constituency where bye-election is scheduled
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.
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.
