TDP betting big on settlers’ vote in Telangana

TDP-BJP alliance expecting major gains in twin cities, Ranga Reddy, Mahabubnagar and Khammam districts

As political parties are left guessing about their prospects in Telangana following huge voter turnout, the Telugu Desam Party is betting big on ‘settlers’ (people with roots in Seemandhra settled in Hyderabad) to give it a respectable score in the region.

Senior TDP leaders are not discounting the fact that the large turnout is likely to help the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) in improving its performance. But an analysis of the poll trends indicate that the Telangana party could make some gains in north Telangana region, expanding its presence in districts like Karimnagar, Adilabad, Medak and Nizamabad.

“Going by the sentiment that is still prevailing, more people should have cast their vote in favour of the TRS. But, the TDP-BJP alliance is sure to make some major gains in the twin cities, Ranga Reddy, Mahabubnagar and Khammam districts,” a senior leader told

The Hindu .

According to initial estimates, the alliance is confident of winning around 30 seats, a majority of them being in the twin cities and Ranga Reddy districts. The alliance is hopeful of winning Musheerabad, Malakpet, Kukatpally, Amberpet, Karwan, Rajendranagar, Secunderabad Cantonment, Serilingampally, Maheswaram, and Vikarabad seats in Ranga Reddy district.

Traditional strongholds

“Several of these constituencies are traditional strongholds of the TDP. The alliance with the BJP will bolster our prospects further,” he said. In the districts, the TDP-BJP alliance is betting big on Mahabubnagar, Makthal, Alampur, Alair, Bhongir, Palakurthi, Wyra, Khammam, Sattupalli and Aswaraopet Assembly seats.

This is in addition to some seats in Nizamabad and Warangal where the party is hopeful that a large chunk of settlers coupled with the strong presence of the BJP in some segments could help the alliance make some impressive gains. The large turnout of voters in the Telangana region appears to have come as a relief for the TDP and the party is pinning hopes on the continuance of the same trend in the Seemandhra region which goes to polls on May 7.

“Unlike the Telangana region where we have seen multi-cornered contests which impacted our vote share in some segments, the fight will be one to one in Seemandhra. The TDP will be in straight contest with the YSR Congress in a major number of seats in the region,” a party MP said.