K Taraka Rama Rao known as KTR is continuing his victory run by winning the Sircilla assembly segment for the fourth consecutive term. He has been MLA from this segment since 2009. He won the by-election held in 2010 as well. KTR is son of Telangana caretaker CM K Chandrasekhara Rao and he served as Minister in KCR cabinet.

In 2009 elections, KTR won over independent KK Mahender Reddy with a majority of just 171 votes. In the present election, Congress fielded Mahender Reddy again but he lost to KTR. With this, Sircilla has joined the list of VIP segments from where CM’s son got elected.

KTR has been the lead campaigner for TRS and he has mounted criticism against rivals during electioneering. He is also at the centre of opposition attacks as Congress leaders accused KCR of passing benefits to his family members especially his son KTR rather than taking care of Telangana people.

Some rivals have even charged KCR with having plans to make KTR chief minister of Telangana as a continuation of family regime in the state. KTR led the TRS campaign in Hyderabad city limits and surrounding areas with special focus on attracting Andhra settlers’ votes. He also attended Kapus community meetings in Kukatpally where TRS is leading over TDP candidate Nandamuri Suhasini.

G.Ravikiran