In the recent Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, both the ruling Congress and the BJP demonstrated strong electoral performances, each securing eight seats out of the total 17 constituencies. This outcome dealt a significant blow to the BRS, which failed to win any seats.
Telangana’s contribution of eight seats to the Congress’ national tally marks a notable increase from the party’s previous performance, where it had secured only three seats in the 2019 elections. This surge is widely attributed to the vigorous campaign spearheaded by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who also serves as the state unit president of the Congress.
During the campaign, Reddy launched a robust critique against the BJP, alleging potential threats to constitutional provisions such as reservations under a BJP-led government.
The Congress’ electoral strategy, including the implementation of six key ‘guarantees’ introduced ahead of the state Assembly elections last year, continued to resonate with voters, contributing to its success in the parliamentary elections. These guarantees encompass initiatives such as free travel for women on state-run public transport, subsidized LPG cylinders priced at Rs 500, and free electricity supply up to 200 units for economically disadvantaged households.
Notably, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi also actively campaigned in the state, further bolstering the party’s electoral prospects.
Meanwhile, the BJP in Telangana significantly expanded its representation, doubling its seat count from four in the previous Lok Sabha elections to eight in the current polls. Factors attributed to this growth include the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, and the perceived achievements of the Modi administration.
Key BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, extensively campaigned across Telangana, underscoring the party’s concerted efforts to consolidate its electoral base.
In a noteworthy development, several BJP leaders who faced defeat in last year’s assembly elections secured substantial victories in the current Lok Sabha polls, underscoring the party’s resilience and appeal among voters.
Conversely, the BRS, led by K Chandrasekhar Rao, suffered a significant setback by failing to secure any seats in Telangana. The party’s diminished performance reflects challenges stemming from internal leadership issues and recent legal controversies, including the arrest of BRS MLC K Kavitha in connection with alleged financial improprieties.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi retained the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency for a fifth consecutive term, defeating BJP’s K Madhavi Latha in a closely contested race.
The polling for Telangana’s 17 Lok Sabha constituencies took place in a single phase on May 13th, marking a pivotal moment in the state’s electoral landscape.
