Hyderabad was painted pink — the official colour of ruling Telangna Rashtra Samiti as the party swept the the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections. Putting up a stunning performance the TRS hit a ton winning 102 of the 150 seats in the civic body.
It has wiped out the major political rivals Congress (2 seats) and the TDP-BJP alliance (4 seats) while the Muslim political party MIM (41 seats) retained its hold over the old city.
The next Mayor of Hyderabad will be from the TRS.
With the TRS securing a clear majority, MIM’s strategy of sharing the power in GHMC through an alliance has come to a naught. It was a disappointment for the party, which had shared the power with the TDP and Congress in the past
In a bitterly fought election, which culminated in a violent showdown during the polling on Tuesday, TDP-BJP alliance came third and the Congress party was reduced to a pathetic fourth position with seats. The BJP and TDP could not retain their hold on the 13 assembly and two lok Sabha seats they won in 2014.
TRS which went all out all guns blazing into an aggressive campaign to win the State capital was in full celebration mode as party did very well in many parts of the city. The victory for the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was especially sweet as his party was almost non existing in Hyderabad city and surrounding areas. With great difficulty it had won only 3 of the 25 Assembly seats in the 2014 elections. TRS rank and file gave the entire credit for party’s spectacular performance to KCR’s son and minister K Taraka Rama Rao who was the main commander of the party campaign.
Even in the Seemandhra strongholds of lB Nagar, Vanasthalipura, Kukatpally, Jubilee Hills Madhapur and Kondapur the TRS performed well leaving the TDP-BJP alliance disappointed.
MIM retained its hold over its assembly seats of Charminar, Chandrayangutta, Malakpet, Nampally, Bahadurpura, Yakutpura.
As picture became clearer jubilant crowds gathered at the TRS headquarters Telangana Bhavan celebrating the victory by bursting crackers, shouting slogans of “KCR Zindabad” and distributing sweets.
Notable winners of the TRS include Vijaya Reddy, daughter of late senior Congress leader P Jana Reddy
Prominent losers include former Mayor Karteeka Reddy of Congress,
In 2009 Congress had emerged as the single larget party by winning 53 followed by TDP at 46, MIM at 43 and BJP 5. TRS was non existing at the time.
Observers say the fact that the TRS was ruling the State and offered a balance mix of development and welfare to the city populace worked in favor of the party.