Hyderabad: The rise in total percentage of votes has become the talk of the town in Telangana and the neighboring Andhra Pradesh State. It has become the hot topic among anybody across the two Telugu States. Even shady and illegal betting business has gained momentum in the two States, thanks to the increase in the polling percentage. The discussion among the gathering of two or more people is revolving only around the results of the just-concluded Assembly elections. Be it remote district of Andhra Pradesh Srikakulam or the remote district of Telangana. Adilabad, one would witness animated discussions about the Assembly elections in small, medium and large gatherings.
While the ruling party leaders are attributing the increase in polling percentage to good performance of the TRS government during the last four-and-a-half years and terming it as a positive vote, the leaders of the Mahakutami of the Opposition parties say the increase was nothing but expression of anger of the people against Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and his government’s “anti-people” policies.
According to the ruling party leaders, the vote increase was nothing but a positive vote in favour of their party — “Our welfare programs like Asara pensions, Shadi Mubarak, Kalyana Laxmi, Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bheema have benefited some 80 lakh people in the State. The beneficiaries came to the polling booths in large numbers and voted for he TRS to thanks us and bless us with a second term,” TRS leader and former chairman of State Minority Commission Abid Rasool Khan told this correspondent.
Pointing out that former CM of undivided Andhra Pradesh Y S Rajasekhar Reddy retained power in the State with a similar positive vote in 2009 and became Chief Minister for second time in a row. “The poll percentage had gone up in 2009 Assembly elections. But many people said the increased polling percentage then was nothing, but the negative vote against the Congress party. However, the election results had proved them wrong as the Congress won with a thumping majority. It is going to be repeated in the State again and our party leader will become the Chief Minister for second consecutive term,” he said.
On the other hand, the Mahakutami leaders saying again and again that they would form the government with the increase in the poll percentage. “If we look at the results of the past elections, the rise in the poll percentage has always gone in favour of the Opposition parties. Barring former Chief Ministers late NT Rama Rao and late YS Rajashekhar Reddy, the incumbent political parties were handed over humiliating defeat by the people of the State in the Assembly elections. The incumbent TRS party will also face a similar result, they argue. “The people have rejected the feudal leadership of KCR with their vote,” a senior Congress leader asserted. The total poll percentage stood at 73.06 percent from 69 percent in the last Assembly elections. Anyhow, the Tuesday poll results will declare the winner.
[source_without_link]NSS [/source_without_link]