BJP wins Mahbubnagar, punctures ‘T-patent’ of TRS

[1]

The BJP punctured the “T-patent” of the TRS on Wednesday by winning the Mahbubnagar Assembly seat. BJP nominee Yennam Srinivas Reddy defeated S. Ibrahim of the TRS, by 1,995 votes in a four-cornered contest. The TRS chief represents the Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha constituency of which the Mahbubnagar Assembly seat is a part. The BJP fielded its candidate for only the Mahbubnagar seat after falling out with the TRS when the latter rejected its plea to give the seat.

Interestingly, the BJP had polled just 1,600 votes in 2009 elections in the segment. According to political pundits, communal and caste divisions and other factors, besides the Telangana sentiment, contributed to the BJP win. Mr Srinivas Reddy had crossed over to the BJP from the TRS recently. With the Mahbubnagar win, the BJP strength has gone up to three from the present two seats in the House.