The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won majority seats in the 14 assembly segments where Andhra settlers play a major role in and around Hyderabad city. The settlers’ votes were divided along community and regional lines in this election unlike in 2014 when settlers rejected both Congress and TRS for dividing the state. The change in political equations in AP have impacted voters’ behaviour in Telangana polls.

Seeing differences between settlers’ communities, KCR’s son K Taraka Rama Rao has attracted some sections of Andhras there which has made a big difference in the results. TDP Chief and AP CM Chandrababu Naidu had high hopes on Hyderabad segments where he campaigned hard but to no effect. The so-called software professionals and their families in Hyderabad city also did not come out much to ensure TDP win.

The defeat of Nandamuri Suhasini is indeed a big shock to the TDP in Kukatpally. It’s a known stronghold of the TDP which won it in 2014 election but the MLA has been attracted by the TRS.

The TDP banked heavily on the Nandamuri family factor while actor Balakrishna and Naidu as well campaigned big-time for Suhasini. But finally TRS won Kukatpally changing the game altogether. The TRS has adopted a ‘divide and rule’ policy to split settlers and benefitted greatly from it.

G.Ravkiran