Goshamahal Election Result 2023: T Raja Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday emerged victorious in the Goshamahal seat in Telangana, clinching his third consecutive win with 80,182 votes, according to data from the Election Commission of India (ECI). Nand Kishore Vyas of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) polled 58,725 votes, resulting in a margin of 21,457. Mogili Sunitha of the Congress secured the third position with 6,265 votes.
Goshamahal, the sole Assembly seat won by the BJP in 2018, has been a focal point of controversies due to the provocative statements made by its MLA T. Raja Singh. Known for his alleged hate speeches, Singh sought a third consecutive victory from this central Hyderabad constituency.
The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was determined to unseat T Raja Singh, deeming his anti-Muslim remarks as a stain on the city's and Telangana's secular image. In November, K. T. Rama Rao, the BRS working president, had expressed confidence that the party would secure victory in Goshamahal, highlighting the government's commitment to communal harmony, according to news agency IANS.
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Goshamahal Election Result 2023: T Raja Singh Reinstated In BJP After Suspension
Singh, notorious for his inflammatory comments, faced suspension from the BJP last year after making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad. After being arrested by the Hyderabad police, he obtained bail from a city court on the same day. However, amidst ongoing protests, he faced another arrest and was incarcerated on August 25, 2022, with the Hyderabad police commissioner invoking the Preventive Detention (PD) Act.
Notably, a total of 101 criminal cases have been lodged against him since 2004, with 18 communal offenses within various police station jurisdictions in Hyderabad, IANS reported citing a police order. His release came in November when the Telangana High Court set aside the PD Act proceedings against him.
The Telangana High Court, while setting aside the PD Act proceedings, directed Singh to refrain from making provocative speeches or offensive posts on social media, as per IANS. However, he continued to deliver hate speeches in various states such as Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
Last month, the BJP reinstated T Raja Singh and nominated him again from Goshamahal. The controversial leader has 75 criminal cases against him, with most related to hate speech, according to his poll affidavit cited by IANS.
In the 2018 elections, Singh retained the seat by a majority of 17,734 votes, securing 45.18% of the votes. The BRS and Congress had contested strongly, but his victory underscored his influence in Goshamahal, which has a significant migrant population, especially from Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Despite the controversies and legal challenges, T Raja Singh's win in Goshamahal comes as a relief for the BJP which despite its ambitious campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is facing defeat in the southern state.
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