TRS hit by flood relief mishandling

Hyderabad: The allegations of mishandling of flood relief and charges of party workers and leaders not being able to reach out to the affected people in providing cash assistance seems to have led to the voters giving vent to their anger which resulted in TRS emerging as the single largest party losing about 43 seats. The party leadership, which made a quick initial analysis of the results, seem to be of the opinion that there was some kind of gap between the cadre and the party leadership.

Otherwise, there was no reason why it had lost in about 15 wards with a very narrow margin of 200 to 300 or even less votes. In some wards TRS, according to its working president K T Rama Rao, lost with 10 to 12 votes to BJP. 

The divisions in the flood-affected areas, including Uppal, Musarambagh, Mansoorabad, Hayatnagar, Vanasthalipuram, Hastinapuram and Saroornagar gave a shock to the ruling party. During the floods, the ruling party leaders faced the ire of the residents in LB Nagar and Uppal Assembly constituencies and results also proved how angry the residents were with the ruling party.

TRS MLA from Uppal B Subhash Reddy had to face criticism from the residents when he visited the flood-affected areas. Incidentally, Congress party has won from the Uppal division. Subhash Reddy's wife B Swapna Reddy lost the election from Habsiguda.

The BJP won in the divisions of Musarambagh, Mansoorabagh, Vanasthalipuram, Saroornagar and Hayatnagar giving a big blow to the ruling party.

Though the TRS leaders had claimed to have given the relief aid to 6.5 lakh people and also promised to provide the benefit to the affected from December 7, the voters seem to have not taken their assurances seriously. The locals had alleged that many did not get the flood relief. However, TRS managed to retain its seats in the Old City.