Finally, Telangana Rashtra Samithi has landed on city political map, and on its own. Since its inception in 2001, TRS faced elections several times. Despite losing some times, it had earned reputation of being a force to reckon with in Telangana but could not make inroads into the capital.
It won Secunderabad and Musheerabad Assembly seats in 2004 but had a poll pact with Congress party then. Rival parties and political experts had been critical of TRS about its strength in the capital, pointing out that it never won even one Assembly seat in Hyderabad.
Now TRS leaders are smiling having wrested the Secunderabad Assembly seat which was won by Congress nominee Jayasudha last time. TRS went to elections this time without allying with any other party though some maintain that Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen had indirectly extended support to it wherever possible.
TRS candidate Padma Rao won over TD nominee K. Venkatesh Goud, while Jaya Sudha managed third place. Malkajgiri Assembly, coming under city capital region but part of Ranga Reddy revenue district, too went into the account of TRS. Its candidate C. Kanaka Reddy, who contested on Praja Rajyam Party ticket last time, emerged victorious with a slender margin of nearly 1,400 votes.
Its candidate in Secunderabad Cantonment G. Nagesh gave tough fight to TD candidate G. Sayanna but lost with nearly 3,000 votes. But two other Assembly seats of Ranga Reddy district, Vikarabad and Tandur, witnessed victory of TRS candidates.
Though four seats out of 29 in the two districts is not a remarkable achievement for the party that emerged strong in other districts, its leaders say they are strong in capital as well having secured second place in many seats.
