In Manikonda municipality, there is a growing conflict between the chairman and some councillors. The chairman, Kasturi Narendar, who is also in charge of the Congress Party Rajendranagar constituency, faced a no-confidence motion in January 2023 but managed to stay in his position. However, nearly half of the 20 council members disapproved of him.
On Tuesday, 13 councillors wrote to the RR additional collector seeking intervention against the chairman’s alleged unilateral decisions. They accused the chairman of making decisions without consulting other ward representatives, which goes against the council’s mandate for collective decision-making.
The councillors claimed that the chairman’s actions, along with support from municipal officials, are leading to financial discrepancies and corruption that only benefit his personal interests. They also mentioned concerns about the relationship between the chairman and real estate builders, alleging that decisions favor these entities over public welfare.
The councillors listed alleged irregularities in the council over the past few years to support their claims. Representatives from multiple wards signed the letter and sent copies to the Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration (CDMA) and the Director-General Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Telangana.
Narender, the chairman, ran for Assembly elections in 2023 but lost. Analysts attributed his defeat to poor leadership in Rajendranagar, where the Congress Party has been divided since he took charge.
