As the countdown for the General Elections began, political developments occurred swiftly with Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), which spearheaded the statehood agitation for over a decade, refusing to have an electoral alliance with Congress and TDP joining NDA.
Riding on a wave of support following formation of Telangana and election promises like loan waiver for farmers, TRS had a thumping victory at the hustings.
Congress would, probably, like to erase 2014 from its memory as it suffered a humiliating defeat in the elections though it “delivered” on the separate statehood demand. A divided house with a string of chief ministerial aspirants, Congress paid the price apparently due to lack of unity.
Adding insult to the injury, some Congress legislators left the party and joined TRS post formation of Telangana. The TDP-BJP combine fared reasonably well in the elections though Congress emerged as the main Opposition party.
TRS leader K Chandrasekhar Rao, who assumed the office of Chief Minister on June 2, quickly got down to business as he sought to build a separate identity for the infant state and promote a brand image with Hyderabad as a magnet.
According to Andhra Pradesh Reorganiation Act, 2014, Hyderabad would remain a joint capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for 10 years after which it would become a part and parcel of Telangana.
