Narayankhed Assembly Constituency is currently witnessing a surge in political activity as the ruling BRS party faces increasing competition from aspirants in the BJP and Congress. With the upcoming elections, the focus shifts to whether BJP or Congress can defeat the incumbent MLA Bhupal Reddy. This report delves into the historical background of elections in Narayankhed, the recent dominance of BRS, and the current political landscape.
Historical Context:
Narayankhed constituency has witnessed 15 elections so far, with Congress emerging victorious nine times. Independents and TDP have also claimed victory on multiple occasions. However, the BRS party’s winning streak has been unbroken since the 2016 by-elections. The first election in 1957 saw Congress candidate Apparao Shetkar triumph, marking the party’s initial dominance.
BRS Party’s Ascendancy:
Since 1989, Kishtareddy has established an impressive track record with consecutive victories. Following the sudden demise of Kishtareddy in 2016, Bhupal Reddy won the subsequent by-election and solidified his position as the MLA. Narayankhed Municipality and the newly formed Nizampet mandals make up the constituency, with BRS candidates prevailing in all mandals. Out of the 205,669 total voters, 104,272 are male, and 101,390 are female. BRS has emerged as an unstoppable force since 2016, dethroning the dominant Congress party.
Congress Party’s Challenges:
Historically, Congress had a strong presence in Narayankhed, even winning in 2014. However, the sudden demise of Kishtareddy affected their prospects in the 2016 by-election. The party currently faces internal conflicts, most notably the feuds between Dr. Sanjeev Reddy, the son of a former MLA, and Suresh Shetkar, another former MLA. Despite efforts to reconcile the factions, no resolution has been reached, leading to confusion and infighting among party cadre. Nevertheless, Dr. Sanjeev Reddy expresses optimism about Congress’ chances in the upcoming elections.
BJP’s Position:
While the BJP has seen an increase in aspirants, experts believe they rank third, after BRS and Congress, in terms of chances of victory. However, the saffron party has been gaining momentum, with leaders expressing confidence in their performance. Notably, former journalist Sangappa and Vijayapal Reddy, the brother of sitting MLA Bhupal Reddy, are hopeful of securing a BJP ticket. Sangappa highlights his strong rapport with the Lingayat community, which forms a significant portion of the constituency, as well as his two decades of experience as a journalist.
As the political battle intensifies in Narayankhed Assembly Constituency, all eyes remain on whether Bhupal Reddy’s BRS party can maintain its stronghold or if the Congress party can regain its former dominance. The BJP, despite being considered the underdog, is steadily growing in strength and aims to present a strong challenge. With a diverse range of aspirants and factions, the upcoming elections promise to be a contest to watch, shaping the political landscape in Narayankhed.
