State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao, on Tuesday expressed confidence of a strong showing in the upcoming elections to three municipal corporations in the Hyderabad region, citing the party’s MPs in the area.

Interacting with city-based leaders at the party’s State office, Mr. Rao said victories in the civic polls would pave the way for the BJP’s emergence as a governing force in Telangana. Recalling the party’s performance in the 2020 Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections, he noted that the BJP had won 48 seats on its own despite facing the combined strength of the then TRS and the AIMIM. The outcome, he said, reflected rising public confidence in the party.

Mr. Rao stressed that party tickets would be given only to “loyal and hardworking” cadre who are active on the ground and maintain close contact with people. He warned against internal dissension, stating that factionalism would not be tolerated. “Public acceptability and winnability will be key criteria in candidate selection,” he added.

At a separate press conference, former MLA N.V.S.S. Prabhakar accused the Congress and the BRS of “pretending to oppose each other in public while protecting each other behind closed doors.” He alleged that the BRS, which was in power for a decade, and the ruling Congress were functioning in a “cohabiting relationship” to safeguard mutual political interests.

He further claimed that several senior BRS leaders, including K. Chandrasekhar Rao, K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao, were facing legal challenges over alleged irregularities during their tenure, and said it was “laughable” that they were now criticising the BJP.

Meanwhile, Chevella MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy said fuel prices in India remained among the lowest despite ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia. He attributed price pressures to oil bonds issued during the UPA regime and alleged that both the previous BRS government and the current Congress government had imposed high taxes, offsetting reductions made by the Centre.