Diversion politics trips Congress as BRS regains urban edge

As Telangana heads into municipal elections on Wednesday, the campaign has exposed a widening gap between rhetoric and record, with the ruling Congress struggling to deflect increasing scrutiny despite a high-decibel push. Though out of power, the BRS appears to have seized the opportunity by framing the contest around governance failures, unkept promises and rising public unease over civic issues in urban areas.

All major parties, including Congress, BRS and BJP, have mounted hectic campaigns, alongside AIMIM, Left parties and independents in select pockets. Instead of grounding its performance in urban local bodies over the past two years and promises of urban development for the future, the Congress, especially Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, leaned heavily on an attention-diversion strategy.

In contrast, the BRS ran a calibrated and disciplined campaign. Chandrashekhar Rao stayed off the campaign trail but oversaw strategy, while KT Rama Rao, Harish Rao and other senior leaders led ground operations.



Attempts to project the former Chief Minister in poor light, particularly through police summons, appeared to have backfired, turning into rallying points for the party. Early appointment of coordinators, tighter booth-level management and efforts to minimise rebel damage gave the BRS a clear organisational edge.

The BJP sought urban expansion with national backing, but its campaign lost momentum after key leaders, including Union Minister Amit Shah and Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan, dropped scheduled appearances, confining its impact to limited pockets.

As campaigning ended amid reports of last-minute poll management, the Congress appears to be banking on lower voter turnout to scrape through. However, the BRS and the BJP are reportedly pushing hard for higher participation to turn the winds in their favour. Under these circumstances, the municipal polls now look less like a routine civic exercise and more like a referendum on the Congress’ faltering first two years and a possible urban comeback moment for the BRS.