KCR wave to create TRS Tsunami in civic polls

Barring a miracle, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti is all set to repeat the GHMC verdict with much greater vigour in ensuing Warangal and Khammam municipal polls. More or less the factors that gave a massive mandate for TRS seems to be showing up in these two districts too. The additional factor is the absence of a force like MIM at least in a part of the corporation to check the TRS juggernaut. As a result, the TRS is expected to get higher percentage of votes and seats.

Among a host of factors, the dominant one is the pro-KCR wave seen across all sections of society. The people are giving more positive response to the question on the Chief Minister's performance compared to even government. Of course, the state government is also witnessing a pro-incumbency vote. The dissipated opposition with no credible face is failing to catch the imagination of the average voter.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao himself said that the promise of 2 bed room houses is the cynosure of the electoral mandate in GHMC. The Warangal and Khammam voters are also with their Hyderabad counterparts on giving thumbs up to the KCR's patented housing scheme.

Despite sporadic feeling of scepticism on how the government can provide such houses for all the aspiring families, every prospective beneficiary is hoping and rallying behind TRS and KCR in particular to not to lose a chance. The applicants who cannot get a house would perhaps get alienated from government that shall pose a challenge for TRS in 2019. But, for the time being, aspiring beneficiaries are rallying behind TRS lock, stock and barrel. Yet another popular welfare scheme that is bringing TRS laurels is the pensions.

The voters with Seemandhra background are also favouring TRS as the animosity towards Telangana state and TRS has withered away. As in Hyderabad, a considerable chunk of local cadres and leaders from all opposition parties including from the Left shifted their loyalty to TRS with average voter unconcerned about the televised debates on defections.

The social groups which are traditionally loyal to the opposition parties are also witnessing a swift shift towards the ruling party. For instance, the TRS has significantly penetrated into the Kamma inhabited colonies in Khammam that were hither to the strong holds of TDP. Similarly, the Muslim voters who had traditionally been with the Congress are allured by KCR’s schemes like Shadi Mubarak and Id eve sops.

The Tummala factor is also discernible in Khammam. Not just the TDP cadres even the TDP vote also shifted to TRS to an extent with Tummala Nageshwara Rao joining the TRS and becoming minister in KCR cabinet well ahead of municipal polls.

Sensing the mood of the voters, the opposition seems to be vacating the ground much before the battle lines are drawn. The opposition camp is not even ready for poll management. However, some political analysts feel that the opposition parties may pool all their eggs in one basket at least in winnable seats to make their presence felt in the new civic bodies.

The Warangal voters have given TRS landslide in 2014 general elections and more recently in the by-elections to Parliament. The political situation has not altered since then to spring any surprise. The triple win of TRS in Warangal and Narayankhed by-polls along with GHMC is also having its share of impact on the mood of the voter in Warangal and Khammam.