Hyderabad: Rebels dent TRS record
Six TRS rebels out of the seven Independent candidates defeated official nominees in the native town of Chief Minister KCR.
Hyderabad: Though the TRS won the Siddipet municipal elections as expected, the fact that rebels were able to dent the party’s performance, that too in a town considered as the party’s backyard came as a shock.
Six TRS rebels out of the seven Independent candidates defeated official nominees in the native town of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and irrigation minister T. Harish Rao and blow to the TRS hegemony in the municipality.
However, Mr Harish Rao was quick to extend an olive branch, congratulating all winners and promising them that all wards in the municipality would see development, irrespective of the party representing them. He also invited the Independents winners, including the six rebels, to join the TRS.
“I thank the people for reposing faith in the government once again. I will strive for development of all wards irrespective of party affiliation. I invite the Independents to extend support to the government in implementing welfare and developmental schemes by joining the TRS, Mr Harish Rao said.
Of the 34 wards, the TRS won 16 on Monday (total tally 22 including the six who won unopposed), Congress two, BJP two, MIM one and seven Independents .
While the TD failed to open its account, a known TD sympathiser won as an Independent.
Interestingly, the TRS, which had a huge run of success in the Assembly, Lok Sabha and municipal polls including GHMC, Warangal, Khammam and Achampet municipalities, found strong rivals in its own backyard.
Though Mr Harish Rao spent considerable time, toured every nook and corner of Siddipet seeking votes for the TRS and nurtured the municipality for long, failed to correctly gauge the rebel strength.
“We paid the price for ignoring winning candidates. Independents have local clout and withstood the TRS wave,” said a TRS leader. AIMIM, a TRS ally, opened its account in Siddipet by winning one ward.
Meanwhile, husband of G. Sandhya, who was elected as Independent from Ward No. 3, met Mr Harish Rao and reportedly expressed support to the party.