After J&K move, TRS leaders wary about municipal polls

Hyderabad: The TRS leaders, who very enthusiastic wanted the municipal elections to be held at the earliest, are now seemed to give it a second thought.

It is learnt that they have urged Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to go slow as they fear that in the wake of the recent political developments like passing Triple Talaq Bill and Article 370, it may give tough fight in the local bodies' elections.

Riding on the success wave of the party in Assembly and zilla parishad elections, the TRS leadership wanted to conduct the municipal elections in August.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had also hinted about holding municipal polls in August during the Assembly session and had said that the real administration in the State would begin from August 15.

However, the government had to slow down because of legal issues. A section of the TRS leaders believe that the changed political scenario could be used by the saffron party to cause a dent in the TRS prospects.

They fear that if polls are held now, they may have to face embarrassment as it happened during the Lok Sabha elections. Party leaders are of the opinion that revoking Article 370 and 35A by the Centre has come in for all-round acceptance by the people and there is a feeling that the Centre had taken a right decision.

The people's opinion weighed in favour of the BJP in Lok Sabha elections as it was held soon after the Pulwama incident and the Balakot air strike which the NDA government resorted to in retaliation.

The TRS leaders feel that the BJP has vote base in towns and the current political situation could give added advantage to the opposition party.

Sources said that in a recent meeting of the party leaders, TRS working president KT Rama Rao had also cautioned the leaders to be wary of the BJP in the State, especially in Lok Sabha constituencies where BJP had won.