Munugode by-election: Congress loses deposit; blames TRS, BJP for using corrupt practices

Stung by losing the deposit, Congress alleged that the Munugode by-election was not free and fair as TRS and BJP distributed gold and money among the voters.

The final votes for the Congress party candidate Paalvaai Sravanthi were 23,664 votes.

"It was not a free and fair election. Both TRS and BJP have distributed gold and money in the Munugode by-election," said Congress leader Shabbir Ali

In the 2018 election, Indian National Congress under Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy polled 97,239 votes. Telangana Rashtriya Samiti polled 74,687 votes and Bharatiya Janata Party got 12,725 votes.

"We have reports that on the polling day, Rs 5000 were distributed to each voter. So much cash was distributed. Election Commission has not taken note of it. With such corruption, how can elections be free and fair? Both the parties are indulging in corrupt practices and voters are completely influenced," he said

Krishna Rao, political analyst, and senior journalist said TRS mobilized all its strength to win comfortably. "Congress failed to secure deposit. It got only 23,664 votes against the 15 percent conditional votes to save a deposit. Congress leaders' non-cooperation and lack of killing instinct proved costly for the party. This pushed them to poor third place," he said.

Rao explained that for BJP, the Munugode poll will enhance the party's prestige and people will start thinking that it is a good alternative to TRS in Telangana.

"BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah will work out a strategy to secure political space in Telangana. The state is going to witness a lot of political developments and there will be more fights between BJP and TRS. The other political players are going to be marginalized," he said.