Congress to hit local body polls button realising ‘all positive’ at the ground level

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Even as the 42% Backward Classes reservations issue continues to be in a dilemma due to legal and political complications, the State government doesn’t want to lose the ‘positive’ atmosphere on the ground to go ahead and conduct the local body elections.

A decision on the dates of local body polls is likely to be taken between August 15 and 18, and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is full of hope of capturing the local body seats. “A clear picture will emerge by August 18,” a senior Minister told The Hindu.

First, the elections to ZPTC and MPTC will be held on the party symbol, and they will be followed by the Sarpanch elections that are not held on party basis. “But the counting for all these would be on the same day,” the Minister revealed.

Three factors that are in favour of the government to proceed with the elections soon are the positive mood created at the village level — good rains, fine rice through the Public Distribution System (PDS), Indiramma Houses and distribution of new ration cards. The 42% reservations to BCs in the local body polls are another factor that Congress wants to leverage in the rural areas. The infighting in the BRS has added to the government’s confidence.

While pushing the blame on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if the reservation issue doesn’t get solved at the Centre, Congress plans to provide a minimum of 42% reservations to BCs within the party tickets. “This was the suggestion to the government by the previous BC Commission in case the issue is caught in the legal wrangles,” a senior Congress leader said. “The purpose is solved for the immediate election even as the fight for legal status would continue in New Delhi.”

After a relentless attack by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) through its social media channels, which indeed created doubts on the government’s popularity, the situation has changed drastically on the ground, creating a positive atmosphere due to the welfare schemes, particularly the issuance of ration cards, fine rice and sanction of Indiramma houses.

The release of Rythu Bharosa, despite the deficiencies, has helped the ruling party to calm the nerves of its cadre to go into the ground strongly. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had been emphasising that the social media attack by the BRS wouldn’t last long and once the schemes are grounded the situation would turn positive.

A senior Minister also acknowledged that BRS MLC K. Kavitha’s episode has diluted the BRS image to a large extent and pushed it on the defensive. He feels the government has successfully exposed the BRS in the Kaleshwaram project ‘fiasco’. “BRS is in no position to challenge the Congress, and the BJP doesn’t have the structure to make a difference in the rural areas,” he said.

Even reports from the Intelligence also reveal that the successful implementation of free travel for women, 200 units of free power and subsidised LPG cylinder supply has enhanced Mr. Revanth Reddy’s image among women. “So this is the right time to hit the button,” the Minister said.