HYDERABAD: With most surveys predicting a neck-and-neck race between the ruling BRS and the Opposition Congress in the upcoming Assembly polls, it will be ‘advantage BRS’ in the event of a hung verdict, according to political circles.
BRS has the flexibility to seek the support of any party to form the government while Congress has political limitations as it cannot join hands with BJP, they said.
Although Telugu voters had no history of giving a hung verdict in Assembly polls — either in undivided Andhra Pradesh till 2014 or in both the Telugu states after the bifurcation of AP after 2014 — the possibility of a hung Assembly in Telangana became a subject of heated debate after multiple surveys over the past few days indicated a close fight between the Congress and BRS.
The surveys say that there is a thin margin of vote share between BRS and Congress, which may result in a fractured verdict and a hung Assembly.
Comments made by BJP general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santosh on October 6 added fuel to the discussion. Addressing around 1,100 party delegates at the BJP's extended state council meeting held at Ghatkesar on the city outskirts, Santosh had predicted a hung Assembly, claiming that the BJP would come to power in such an eventuality.
It was speculated that the BJP's central election committee (CEC) meeting on Friday saw BJP national president J.P. Nadda, Union home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh and B.L. Santosh reportedly discuss the issue of a hung assembly at length. Suggestions were also made to state president G. Kishan Reddy and CEC member K. Laxman, on the course of action in such a scenario.
With multiple surveys predicting that BRS and Congress would both fall short of the magic mark of 60 seats to form the government, the BRS is likely to seek the support of AIMIM, which is predicted to retain its seven seats.
The BRS can even seek the BJP's support to prevent the Congress from forming the government in Telangana, on the lines of the Congress supporting the JD(S) in Karnataka to prevent the BJP from coming to power in 2018. In such a case, the AIMIM’s stand may prove crucial.
But Congress has fewer options than the BRS, as it cannot seek the BJP's support nor is it on good terms with the AIMIM.
