TRS sees strong Telangana wave

The Telangana voter has given his verdict in the by-election for six Assembly seats from the region _ Kollapur, Mahbubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Station Ghanpur, Kamareddy and Adilabad _ which will be known on March 21.

The high polling percetnage of about 67 is being interpreted by  pro- Telangana forces as a definite vote for separate state. The Telangana sentiment having worked, the TRS may walk away with a majority of the six seats.

In Kollapur. former minister Jupalli Krishna Rao is in the fray as TRS candidate and his bete noire and information and public relations minister DK Aruna spared no effort to turn the tide in favour of Congress candidates P Vishnuvardhan Reddy whose intensive canvassing made people wonder if he might pull off a surprise.

In Mahbubnagar, the situation is dicey. Though Telangana sentiment is strong, there are two candidates who are wedded to statehood cause _ Syed Ibrahim (TRS) and Yennam Srinivasa Reddty (BJP). As the constituency is communally sensitive, there is a polarisation of voters on religious lines too. The Congress fielded Muthyala Prakash, a BC leader, instead of nominating Vijayalakshmi, widow of N Rajeswara Reddy, whose death caused by-poll. The outcome here is difficult to predict with TRS and BJP locked in a fierce battle.

In Nagarkurnool, former minister Nagam Janardhan Reddy is riding the crest of Telangana wave. That he has left the company of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu for Telagnana has earned him goodwill and the TRS is supporting him.

In Station Ghanpur in Warangal district, where the Telangana movement is very intense, TRS’ T Rajaiah is locked in a keen fight with former Telugu Desam minister Kadiam Srihari. In Kamareddy, Gampa Govardhan of TRS, who had been with the TDP till recently, whipped up Telangana sentiment in his favour. Yedla Raji Reddy of the Congress put up a spirited fight.