MLC Dayakar refutes Bandi’s allegations, says BJP lacks clear mandate in Karimnagar

Congress MLC Addanki Dayakar dismissed Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s allegations regarding political deals in the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation, asserting that the BJP had not secured a clear mandate despite emerging as the single-largest party.

Speaking to reporters at Gandhi Bhavan here on Saturday, Mr. Dayakar said that despite all the hype and provocations from the Union Minister, the BJP had failed to secure the magic number required to claim the Mayor’s post outright.

Countering Mr. Sanjay’s charges of a pact among the Congress, Mr. Dayakar maintained that forming ‘alliances’ before or after elections was a normal political process, depending on local circumstances. He clarified that the Congress had no formal alliance with the AIMIM.

“We only have an understanding at the local level. In fact, Congress candidates contested against AIMIM in several divisions and lost,” he said.

Slamming the Union Minister for inviting the independent corporators, Mr. Dayakar asked, “Why did you invite the independent corporators home at night and hand them your party scarves?”

The Congress MLC condemned Mr. Bandi Sanjay’s statement that he would drive away those who snatch the Mayor’s post if the party failed to secure the Mayor’s post. “You are the Minister of State for Home Affairs. Yet you speak in a manner that disturbs law and order,” he said.

Mr. Dayakar further pointed out that the BJP had failed to win even a single municipality on its own among 42 bodies, despite having several MPs, MLAs and MLCs.

The Congress leader also questioned the BRS on why the party did not campaign actively in Karimnagar and Nizamabad, and why working president K.T. Rama Rao did not campaign in Karimnagar despite canvassing in Sircilla. He also took aim at Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind for his alleged ‘abusive and incendiary language’.