With recent migrations from TDP and Congress to TRS, the campaign for Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation(GWMC) elections has become totally one sided. No prominent leader is left in the opposition to campaign for their respective parties. The alliance between BJP and TDP is broken. And both the parties, it is learnt, are finding it difficult to protect candidates from being persuaded by TRS to withdraw from the fray. These parties complain, the TRS is trying to woo BJP, TDP and Congress candidates to quit the contest. TDP is holding a camp for all the candidates till the expiry of the date for withdrawal of nominations. TRS is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that it wins all seats in the elections. Warangal is the second biggest city in the state and the ruling party has big plans to develop the city on the lines of second capital of the state. So, the pink party doesn’t want any resistance for its program either on the streets or in the Municipal council from the opposition parties.
From the TDP side, TRS attracted two important leaders, Gundu Sudharani, Rajya Sabha member and Errabelli Dayakar Rao,Palakurti MLA. From the Congress former minister Basavaraju Saraiah, who joined the party two days ago is working for the win of TRS. If the party wins the election with thumping majority, Saraiah would get some recognition in TRS. It will be beneficial for him from one way or the other. Many important local leaders joined the TRS from Congress in the recent past. One such leader is Tadisetty Vidya Sagar, city Congress president. He is contesting in GWMC elections from 43 division as TRS candidate. Another important leader to leave the Congress to join TRS is Sambari Samma Rao, former ZP chairman.
Other important grass root leaders to join the TRS from TDP are Basva Reddy, former ZP chairman, D Damodar Reddy , former DCCB chairman, Takkallapalli Narayan Rao, former Warangal Agriculture Market Committee, Harihara Prasad, Kakatiya Urban Development Authority.
Against this backdrop, Warangal poses still difficult situation for the opposition parties than the GHMC, where important leaders could at least campaign. Warangal is a far cry. Neither AP CM Naidu nor his son Lokesh is scheduled to campaign in this historic town in the core Telangana region. Unfazed, TDP is fielding candidates from 53 divisions and in the remaining 5 divisions the party is extending support to the independent candidates. Today is the day for withdrawals and the polling is scheduled on March 6,2016. Counting will take place on March 9.
