One of the issues that came up for discussion during the just concluded assembly elections in Telangana was whether the people would re-elect the MLAs, who had defected from one party to another.
However, the elections have shown a mixed response from the electorate towards the defectors.
According a calculation, as many as 17 leaders out of 24 who had shifted their loyalties from one party to another got elected.
Among those who defected from the Congress and TDP to Telangana Rashtra Samithi, only one candidate – Teegala Krishna Reddy lost the elections and all others were successful in getting re-elected.
In Greater Hyderabad, Danam Nagendar who defected from Congress to TRS won from Khairatabad. Bollam Mallaiah Yadav who joined TRS from TDP also won.
Jubilee Hills - Maganti Gopinath, Sanathnagar - Talasani Srinivas Yadac, Cantonment - Sayanna, Qutubullapur - K P Vivekananda, Rajendranagar - Prakash Goud, Sherlingampally - Arekapudi Gandhi, Parkal - Challa Dharma Reddy, Narayanpet - Rajendar Reddy, Palakurthy - Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Miryalguda - Bhaskar Rao, Dornakal - DS Reddya Naik, Muktal - Chittem Rammohan Reddy, Chevella - Kale Yadaiah, Khammam- Puvvada Ajay Kumar, Mudhole - Vittal Reddy won the seats.
Similarly, Pilot Rohit Reddy who shifted from TRS to Congress won against TRS former minister Mahendar Reddy from Tandur.
On the other hand, Konda Surekha, who shifted to Congress from TRS tasted defeat. Bodiga Shobha who joined BJP as she was denied ticket by TRS also lost. Ramesh Rathode who joined Congress from TRS also got defeated.