The victory of Surabhi Vani Devi, daughter of former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, in the MLC elections under Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy-Mahabubnagar graduates’ constituency is a sort of morale booster for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
The TRS, which was in low spirits after the loss of sitting seat to the Bharatiya Janata Party in Dubbak assembly by-elections held in December and the subsequent poor show in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections, bounced back in the MLC elections.
The fact that it wrested the MLC seat from sitting candidate N Ramachandra Rao of the BJP is a sort of tit-for-tat by the TRS. Now, the BJP doesn’t have any representation in the legislative council.
The TRS took these MLC elections very prestigiously because they reflect the mood of the educated voters and a defeat would definitely have its impact on the forthcoming by-election to Nagarjunasagar assembly seat to be held on April 17, besides ensuing elections to Khammam and Warangal municipal corporations.
KCR pulled out all stops to win the MLC elections by roping in all its ministers and MLAs into the campaign.
The choice of Vani Devi was a strategic move at a time when the state has been celebrating the birth centenary year of Narasimha Rao.
It successfully garnered the support of intellectuals, academics, teachers and of course state government employees.