Telangana poll results: Congress sends special team to shield candidates from poaching

Congress has hurriedly sent a special team to Hyderabad to save its MLAs from being poached after exit polls showed a clear possibility of the party winning more seats than the ruling BRS in the Telangana polls.

Exit polls had suggested a tight race in Telangana, with Congress getting a slender lead over BRS.

The special team includes Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar, known as the party’s crisis manager. The others are his cabinet colleagues Zameer Ahmed Khan, B Nagendra, and NS Boseraju.


Shivakumar said that there was information about BRS attempting to contact their MLAs.

Despite the confidence shown by some leaders in the party, preemptive measures are being taken to safeguard MLAs in anticipation of a potential hung verdict, ToI reported citing statements made by insiders.

There are concerns about BRS, BJP, and AIMIM forming a coalition, attempting to poach Congress MLAs.

Candidates have been alerted to be in Hyderabad, and Shivakumar, along with supervisors, will monitor the counting process, making arrangements if the numbers are slightly below the critical 60 mark.

The Congress has assigned 49 observers to counting centers, and AICC representatives are reportedly associated with contestants.