CM Revanth sounds poll bugle, seeks cadre to ministers mobilisation for ZPTC and GHMC polls

Hyderabad: With a decisive victory of the ruling party with 66 per cent seats in the Sarpanch elections, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has asked the cadre to set up their ambitious goals to sweep upcoming Zilla Parishad, MPTC/ZPTC and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections.

The meeting in Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday was attended by Cabinet ministers, MLAs and district functionaries, focused on converting rural momentum into urban dominance and ensuring a unified front against the opposition.

Overhaul for Zilla Parishad elections

Stating that the Sarpanch poll results are a direct endorsement from the people of the State government’s two-year governance, the Chief Minister emphasised that there is no room for complacency.

To secure the Zilla Parishads, the leadership announced a new layer of Cabinet accountability. This will include:

1. Ministerial responsibility: Each in-charge minister has been assigned a specific Parliamentary segment. They have been warned that they will be held personally accountable for the victory of ZPTC candidates within their designated zones.

2. The sarpanch network: Ministers were instructed to hold immediate district-level meetings with newly elected Sarpanches. The strategy is to leverage these grassroots winners to influence the MPTC and ZPTC voting blocks, creating a seamless ‘village-to-district’ command structure.

3. Addressing gains and gaps: A review of constituencies where the party underperformed was ordered. Senior state-level observers will be deployed to mandals facing internal friction to ensure candidate selection is finalised based on ‘loyalty and winnability.’

A new approach for GHMC and Urban Bodies

The Chief Minister highlighted that urban voters require a distinct engagement strategy compared to rural areas. For the GHMC and municipal polls, the party has shifted its focus to:

1. House-to-house outreach: CM Revanth Reddy directed MLAs and urban cadre to abandon large-scale rallies in favour of direct voter contact. Party activists are tasked with visiting every household to counter ‘opposition misinformation’ and explain the government’s urban development initiatives.

2. Counter-narrative: The cadre has been instructed to aggressively highlight the infrastructure failures of the previous BRS regime while showcasing the current administration’s transparency and the delivery of the ‘Six Guarantees.’

3. Symbolic victory: The CM issued a clear slogan for the urban battle: ‘The Congress flag must fly high on every urban office.’

Directives to the cadre: Unity and Discipline

Addressing the party workers, the Chief Minister delivered a stern warning against internal bickering. He stated that ‘personal interests must be sacrificed for the party’s success’ and promised serious disciplinary action against those engaging in group politics.

Furthermore, the cadre was instructed to link the local elections to the national struggle for MGNREGA. By portraying the Central Government’s recent policy changes as ‘anti-poor,’ the Congress aims to consolidate the labour vote across both rural and semi-urban pockets.

In conclusion, CM Revanth reminded the gathering of his own journey, stating that the party’s strength made him Chief Minister.

He expressed his commitment to seeing every dedicated grassroots worker emerge as a leader, remarking that ‘it is now my mission to ensure the victory of the workers who stood by the party during its toughest times.’