The TRS looked set to form its second successive government in Telangana with a thumping majority after taking an unassailable lead in 86 seats, according to the latest vote count Tuesday, a ringing endorsement of party chief K Chandrasekhar Rao's populist policies.
Rao had dissolved the Assembly in September, eight months ahead of schedule, in a political gamble that paid off handsomely, as the party is expected to improve on its previous strength of 63 in the 119-seat Assembly. However, TRS strength had risen to 82 after defections from TDP and Congress before the elections.
Celebrations erupted in TRS offices throughout the state as well as in the Telangana Bhavan, the party headquarters in Hyderabad. TRS activists dancing to drum-beats, burst firecrackers and distributed sweets.
Despite allegations of perpetuating "family rule", KCR, as the caretaker chief minister is popularly known, his son K T Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao won comfortably in Gajwel, Sircilla and Siddipet constituencies respectively.
Congress candidates were leading in 22 seats and its ally TDP in two, confirming that their alliance was facing an expected rout in the face of the TRS juggernaut, which also trampled BJP, which was ahead in three seats. The party had five members in the dissolved assembly.
The victory will not only consolidate KCR's position in Telangana but also accelerate the momentum of his party to form an anti-BJP, anti-Congress alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
