Lok Sabha elections in Telangana: Low turnout disappoints TRS, but KTR bullish about 16 wins

HYDERABAD: The not-so-great voter turnout left the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) disappointed. Questions are being asked if Thursday’s voting could be indicative of ‘trouble’ ahead for ruling party candidates — at least in some constituencies. The leadership, including CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, has kept telling people to come out in big numbers and ensure huge margins for its candidates so that the party would be in a position to leverage its gains at the Centre, three months after the landslide win in assembly polls.
TRS working president, KT Rama Rao however, was confident about the outcome of the polls.“From the exit polls and feedback from various districts, TRS is set to win 16 parliament seats and MIM in Hyderabad. My sincere thanks to all the party leaders and workers who’ve worked diligently in hot summer. Your hardwork will be blessed by people of Telangana,” KTR tweeted.
At the end of polling at 5 pm, the poll percentage was 60.57. This was low when compared to the December assembly polls when 73% polling was recorded and 69% in 2014 general elections. Making no bones about his displeasure, TRS working president KT Rama Rao took to Twitter. “I am proud of the way Telangana conducted itself today in this important parliament election. Proud of the administrative machinery, EC & Govt officials, political party workers of all parties and above all the people of Telangana. Only letdown was the low turnout in towns (sic),” KTR tweeted.
That it wanted big gains in the Lok Sabha elections was something the TRS made clear right after the assembly polls. Many leaders and workers, down to the sarpanch level, were got into the party with one main motive — of taking the responsibility of getting voters to give the TRS a resounding victory in the LS polls. The ground level plan was that those made responsible for their areas would follow-up with the electorate and bring them to the booths. Since that did not quite happen, TRS leaders have realised that not everyone took their responsibility seriously.
Earlier in the day, KTR put out another tweet asking people to go out and vote. “Guys, those of you who haven’t yet voted. Please do; remember: We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate (sic).”
Nizamabad MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha, who is seeking a re-election, also sensed that people in the urban areas were not coming out to vote. “Who you vote for is your choice but come out and vote,” she said after she cast her vote in Nizamabad. Former minister and Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao urged people to utilise their franchise. “It’s hot but come out and vote,” he appealed.
At the end of the day, the turnout in Nizamabad was 54.20% which was much less than what TRS had hoped for. In 2014, 69.11% polling was recorded. In Medak, the party leadership had aimed at a majority ofover five lakh votes. But with 68.60% turnout, a record win may not be possible. In 2014, the turnout was 77.7%. Even Khammam at 67.96% is giving the party jitters.