RDO Srinivasa Raju gives the winning certificate to the TDP Council V. Selvaraj, who was elected chairman of the municipal municipality of Kuppam on Monday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Telugu Desam (TDP) after more than three years after more than three years required the municipality of Kuppam from the Congress side of YSR (YSRCP).
Kuppam was a bastion of TDP as the main Minister of N. Chandrababa Naida retained his winning lane in the election district in the last eight consecutive elections. TDP also won the village for almost three decades.
YSRCP, which came to power in 2019, made efforts to acquire the chairman of the municipality of Kuppam and succeeded. YSRCP won 19 out of 25 councilors in the elections, while TDP could win only six.
After the NDA came to power in the state in 2024, then the chairman of the Municpal Sudheer resigned as a party and joined TDP, along with four councilors who made elections to the village.
YSRCP reportedly moved his advice to Bengalur before the elections. TDP leaders reportedly associated with councilors YSRCP and some of them voted in their favor, the sources said.
On Monday 22 elected councilors and two members of ex-off-TDP MLC Kanchar Sikanth and Ysrp MLC RKJ Bharat-with participated in a special meeting held in the development office of KUPPAM MPP to choose the new chairman.
TDP chose the advice of the fifth department of V. Selvaraj, who belongs to the Vannekul Khatriya community, while Ysrp built the council of the second SD hafeez department. Mr. Selvaraj secured 15 votes, while Mr. Hafeez was able to handle only nine votes.
While the TDP cadre celebrated victory, while YSRCP called a foul during the elections, TDP accused TDP of resorting to coerce and unethical tactics.
MLC Krj Bharat called it a “black day for democracy”. “TDP, although exceeded in the Council, resorted to intimidation, threats and even financial incentives to lure the advice of YSRCP,” he said.
“TDP leaders resorted to threats and offered up to 50 lakh to lure councilors YSRCP. This tactic led to defects of 10 councilors YSRCP, who resisted the party whip and voted against their own party candidate,” said Mr. Bharat.
He said that measures against councilors who resisted the party whip would be taken. “We will proceed to the Supreme Court and ensure that those who violated the whip party face the consequences,” he added.
Published – April 28, 2025 20:18
