As the results of the five state assembly election were announced, K Chandrasekhara Rao, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) supremo secured a clear majority over the Congress-TDP alliance.
However, as per a report in the New Indian Express, some senior Congress leaders were of the view that it was a blunder on the part of the party leadership to align with the TDP in Telangana Assembly elections and the results were obvious. “If not for the alliance with the TDP, the election results perhaps would have been different. At least not this massive defeat,” observed a senior Congress leader.
Another leader pointed out that the Congress’ strategies during the election campaign fell flat. The party leaders instead of properly projecting what the Congress did for the people of Telangana only focused on vilification of Telangana Rashtra Samithi. “Perhaps, we were overconfident in our approach in Telangana. It is time for introspection and we have to rework our strategy,” said former Union minister MM Pallam Raju.
The TRS has also registered a massive vote share of 46.9% against the Congress share of 28%.
As per reports, several analysts feel that if the Rahul Gandhi is in a mood to replicate this model of the alliance on a national level in 2019, he might need a better strategy. As TDP is often accused of stalling Telangana’s formation, many also think that an alliance with TDP created ‘Telangana sentiment’ among the masses and drove them towards TRS.
Even the Congress CM candidate A Revanth Reddy and many senior leaders like DK Aruna, K Jana Reddy failed to hold on to their seats.
Political analyst M E V Prasad Reddy told TOI, “KCR could strike a chord in rural areas with his schemes. Long neglected villages were taken care of. Congress was disconnected from the masses due to its ageing leadership. Tying up with Naidu was a big blunder. People of Telangana didn’t like it.”
Distressed by the anticipated defeat, Congress had earlier tried to play their favourite “EVM tampered theory” in the state. On cue of the early trends, the TRS supporters had already started celebrating which made Telangana Congress leaders raise the doubt.
Amusingly as Congress stakes victory in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan, these false theories which the Congress peddled for all this while seemed to have disappeared in thin air in all these three states.
