With foot already in door, BJP expands booth-level footprint in Telangana

A recent by-election loss does not mean the party has no strategy for the southern state, writes Radhika Ramaseshan

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may have lost Munugode to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS, the latest incarnation of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi) by a 10,309-vote margin, but the recent Assembly by-poll in Telangana spotlighted two trends emerging before the 2023 state elections.

One, the Munugode outcome reinforced the BJP’s position as BRS’ principal challenger. Two, the BJP finally breached the uncharted territory of South Telangana, comprising the Nalgonda and Khammam districts. The South was political home to the BRS, Congress, and Left parties. Indeed, Munugode assessments suggested that BRS’ victory was facilitated in a large part by the transfer