Bypoll precursor to mother of all battles for Telangana in '23

Lenkalapally mandate: Bypoll over, pick development spade

- U.Sudhakarreddy and Nirupa.Vatyam

Hyderabad: Munugode is no Medak of Indira Gandhi fame. But a bypoll in this backward, nondescript constituency was fought like the semi-final to the mother of all battles in 2023. With BJP paradropping its central brass, marshalling and replenishing its cadre and TRS mobilising its might to stop the saffron march, an ordinary byelection turned into a highvoltage contest of prestige, not to speak of the money and muscle power involved.

If Munugode was touted as the gateway to south Telangana before the final war, the TRS did manage to hold fort and keep alive its national ambition.