Hyderabad: From zero seats in 2009, the TRS is expecting to win more than 80 out of the 150 seats in the upcoming GHMC polls.
However, no party has crossed the halfway mark on its own. The first GHMC election after bifurcation is a litmus test for all parties. Seemandhra voters, who form a major chunk in some of the biggest constituencies, are the deciding factor though many MLAs who had won on TD tickets have shifted over to the TRS.
Formed in 2001, the TRS had stayed away from elections in 2003. It had tried its luck in 2009 but had failed to bag a single seat in the municipal elections.
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But the pink party was active in employee’s union elections like the city water board (HMWS&SB), GHMC and then APSRTC. TS irrigation minister Harish Rao had spearheaded the party in the employee union elections.
Even in the 2014 Legislative Assembly elections, the TRS secured only two out of the 24 seats in the city – Secunderabad by minister Mr Padma Rao and Malkajgiri by first timer Mr C. Kanaka Reddy.
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Following the formation of the new state’s first Cabinet, four city MLAs were made ministers with important portfolios. Mr Naynani Narsimha Reddy and Mr Mahmood Ali, who were inducted into the Cabinet by nomination, were given the Home ministry and the deputy Chief Minister’s post respectively.
Secunderabad MLA Mr Padma Rao was given the Excise and Sport ministries while Mr T. Srinivas Yadhav, who had won on a TDP ticket from Sanath Nagar and later changed party, was also given major portfolios.
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Gradually the TRS has strengthened its base in the core city with few city MLA’s drifting to the party, like former Hyderabad mayor Mr T. Krishna Reddy and Kukatpally MLA Mr M. Krishna Rao.
Speaking to DC, Greater Hyderabad party president Mr Mynampally Hanumanth Rao said, “The party’s agenda is purely development and people's welfare.
Hyderabad will turn into a smart city because TRS is looking at developing it on par with global cities. We are confident of wining majority of seats and will emerge as the single largest party. The first mayor will be from the TRS.”
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Meanwhile Seemandhra voters living in few of the city's biggest constituencies play an important role and the results of the GHMC polls will indicate the TRS standing in the 2019 elections.
The new city and the merged municipalities are home to Seemandhra voters, right from Madhapur to Serilingampally, Gachibowli to Patancheru are strong bases of the Telugu Desam. Almost 30 per cent of the voters are settlers.
