iding high on the “development wave”, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) scripted a sweeping victory in the first election to the Khammam Municipal Corporation (KMC) by bagging 34 of the total 50 divisions, thereby capturing the prestigious civic body.
The maiden election to the KMC saw the emergence of the TRS as a major force to reckon with in the district headquarters town, considered a traditional stronghold of the Left parties and the Congress.
The TRS’ prospective mayoral candidates Dr. G. Papa Lal and Dharavath Rammurthy were among the winners.
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Though the Congress managed to get double-digit seats – 10 – the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) suffered a complete rout as it drew a blank in the KMC election, the results of which were declared on Wednesday.
The recent exodus of several local TDP leaders into the ruling party spelt doom for the TDP. The TDP suffered a serious setback at the hustings, following the defeat of all its 48 candidates in the fray.
The CPI(M), which contested the KMC election independently, could secure only two divisions. The party contestants – former municipal chairperson Afroz Sameena and Sailaja emerged victorious from 30 and 43 divisions respectively.
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CPI candidates B. George Clements and P. Sakkubai emerged triumphant from 28 and 50 divisions respectively. CPI candidate and former municipal councillor Puvvada Jayasree lost the election from division 11.
The YSR Congress party managed to win two divisions. The party candidates S Venkaiah and D. Swetha won in division 4 and 34 respectively.
The BJP, which fielded its candidates from 11 divisions independently, received a drubbing as it failed to open its account in the KMC poll. The Congress and the CPI joined hands to checkmate the ruling TRS, but with little success. The combine won 12 divisions together and lost several other divisions with narrow margin. Factors such as multi-cornered contests in all the divisions and the strong show by the YSR Congress party candidates in a few key divisions have eaten into the traditional vote bank of the Congress, political observers feel.
The TRS’ poll promise of constructing two-bedroom houses for the poor and developing Khammam town on the lines of Hyderabad appears to have paid rich dividends to the ruling party at the hustings. Soon after the declaration of the final election results, the TRS cadres burst into celebrations and took out rallies carrying pink flags.