Telangana Rashtra Samiti is all set for a historic win in GHMC elections and wrest the Mayor post for the first time as per the Exit Polls conducted by various media agencies. TRS’s lead campaigner, IT and Panchayat Raj Minister KT Rama Rao made a whirlwind tour of nook and corner of Hyderabad City showcasing Party’s work since June 2, 2014. And the effort seems to have paid big time!
VDP Associates, a leading polling agency studying electoral trends in India, termed KTR as star campaigner who had the backing of majority of neutral voters (voters with no party allegiance) and swung the fortunes for the Pink Party. To a specific question to voters, ‘Which leader’s campaign swung your voting preference?’ asked by the agency an impressive 29% named KTR followed by MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi with 22%. Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Nadu, who’s making a vain attempt to keep his Party relevant in Telangana stood a distant third with 11% votes.
All the Exit Polls predict a smooth victory and the Mayorship to TRS on its own strength. Interestingly, VDP Associates gives the break-up of voter preferences as per their native States. Telangana Rashtra Samiti polled majority of votes from all voters cutting across States and regions. Specifically, it received thumbs up from voters of Rayalaseema origin and got more votes than opposition parties (TDP, BJP combine and Congress) from Andhra origin electorate. Similarly, the Party received impressive percentage of votes from people from other States of India, not to mention native Telanganites.
KT Rama Rao had been the face of TRS campaign in GHMC polls and the support it received from all the sections is a testimony to the sway he has had on the electorate. In a way, it is also a stamp of acceptance and anticipation from Hyderabad city as the young, dynamic and tech-savvy leader is about to take up the new role of Minister for Municipal Administration!