The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti had left no stone unturned in the run-up to the election as it was keen on establishing its hold on the State capital not only because it is a prestigious issue but also it is essential for it to remain in power in the long run as the GHMC area accounts for over one-fifth of the total electorate and also 24 out of the 119 Assembly segments in Telangana.
For the record, TRS had bagged just one out of 24 seats in the city during the election held to the State Legislative Assembly in 2014, while the TDP-BJP combine secured 15 seats. The TRS even stayed away from the 2009 GHMC polls.
Consequently, the TRS had drawn up an elaborate strategy to emerge victorious in the keenly fought 'Battle of Baldia'. The TRS admitting legislators belonging to other political parties, despite enjoying a majority in the Assembly, was also a part of this strategy.
“They ( the legislators who came from other parties) may not strengthen the party but will definitely sway the minds of the people” said Panchayat Raj Minister and KCR's son K. T. Rama Rao, who spearheaded TRS campaign in the elections, said, that when asked about impact of these defections in the elections.
This apart, KCR had inducted into his Cabinet four legislators hailing from the city and given them prime portfolios including Deputy Chief Ministership to Mahmood Ali, Home Ministry to Naini Narsimha Reddy and Excise to Padma Rao. He had also made Talasani Srinivas Yadav, who was elected on the TDP ticket, a minister in his government.
Announcing ambitious schemes for the development of Hyderabad, including construction of expressways, skyways, sky scrapers, two additional drinking water reservoirs, two-bedroom houses for the poor, 200 more meat and vegetable markets and island power supply besides establishment of a T-Hub, which are estimated to cost over Rs 50,000 crore, also seemed to be in tune with this strategy.
The ruling party also continued to woo the voters who have their roots in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. Hyderabad belongs to all those who live in the city, it said shedding its confrontationist attitude towards Seemandhra people during the prolonged agitation for the formation of the Telangana state.
In fact, going by the statements of KCR and his son in the run-up to the election, the TRS seemed to have embarked on an exercise to erode the electoral base of the TDP and Congress.
Eventually, it appears, TRS seems to be bent upon ensuring that the ruling party of in Andhra Pradesh (AP) lost its relevance in Telangana. Hence, the father-son duo continued to discredit the contribution made by TDP national president and AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, to the development of Hyderabad.
Gradually, TRS strengthened its base in the core city and decided to contest all the 150 seats in the corporation. At the same time, it strategically maintained friendly relations with the Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) to keep its options open for any tie-up in future.
On the other hand, the TDP, which secured 45 seats, and the Congress, which bagged the highest number of 52 seats in the 2009 GHMC polls, have failed to retain their vote bank. Congress winning just two seats and the TDP one seat despite their top leaders taking part in the campaign shows how effective the TRS strategy has been.
