TRS is expanding phenomenally in Telangana and Telugu Desam party is being reduced to a cipher in the new state.
The ruling party is marching into areas hitherto unfavorable to the Pink Panther. The just concluded MLC elections bears testimony to this. In the elections notified for 12 vacancies, the party won six without contest and four in elections. The party won a total 10 seats and its strength in 40-seat council catapulted to 29. This number is bad for all political parties in state.
First, the Congress is set to lose its opposition status in the House. Second, The Upper House, which, in the control of Congress, used to create headache for the ruling party, is now under total command of TRS. Third, the TDP is losing relevance in the state politics.
The fallout of this ever growing strength of the TRS is certain to trigger fresh defections from two opposition parties-Congress and Telugu Desam. According to sources, as many as five MLCs are said to be in touch with Pink Party which will be a death blow to the party, which wants to stage come back in 2019. To retain its status of the Opposition party, Congress has to muster a strength of 10 per cent of the total strength.
With this strength, the government can gag the voice of Congress effectively. Because of the status of Opposition leader, Md Ali Sabbir, has become fierce attacker of the government in the Council. As opposition leader, Shabbir Ali is privileged to get priority over other members when he wants to speak. The status has emboldened Shabbir to launch virulent attack on TRS leadership and government even outside the House. The Shabbir’s status in the house is now depends on the accommodative strategy of the ruling party. If TRS wants there should be an opposition party, otherwise Council would have to function without opposition leader. Shabbir has to struggle a lot to keep his flock together to retain his post. If MIM exerts pressure on TRS to divest its strident critic from Muslim community, Shabbir of the tag LoP, he is bound to lose his honor .
The strategy of TRs in state is that it doesn’t want any party stronger in Telangana. So, with energy induced by Ayuta Chandi Yagam and the enthusiasm generated by Warangal Lok Sabha byelection and Council elections now, TRS supremo would intensify his efforts to weaken Congress into a party that is confined to small pockets here and there in the state.
Because, whatever might be the reason, chief minister KCR has succeeded in reducing the Telugu Desam party to a non-entity in Telangana. Now, the TDP, which once boasted of great presence in Hyderabad because of Seemandhras’ presence , is not in a mood to give a fight to TRS in GHMC elections. For Chandrababu Naidu, TRS is friendly party and KCR a reliable friend .
