Son-shine state: KTR is the new `Nizam' of Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Thirty-nine-year-old Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao walked away with all the laurels at the ending of counting day. The clean sweep by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi was largely courtesy his strategic and relentlessly campaigning.
Son of party supremo and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, led the TRS poll campaign from the front since Day 1.Exhaustively touring the 150 divisions in the city, attending more than 100 meetings within a span of one week, coordinating with local leaders and even ensuring that publicity material reached every candidate -the IT and Panchayat Raj minister of Telangana did it all almost single handedly. And his effort finally paid off, and how! The party picked up majority seats in all the four zones of the city.
Political analysts attributed this to the articulate speeches of the double masters' degree holder turned-politician that won the hearts of Hyderabadis and positioned him as the most preferred leader among young voters.
In fact, one opinion poll pegged KTR's following among voters at a formidable 29%, ahead of both Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi. Yet, sure to leave no stone unturned to bring home the winner's crown, KTR ­ now being talked about as the next municipal affairs minister -meticulously reached out to every section of society including IT employees, women, industrialists, film personalities and businessmen. He even went that extra mile to tap into communities ­ Bengalis, Jains, Sikhs, Muslims ­ and showcase before them the achievements of the 18-month-old KCR government. “Starting from 6 am every day, KTR attended more meetings than any other leader in the TRS. He also ensured participation of important leaders in the campaign so that a strong message could be sent out to the party cadre. It's this that has paid dividends,“ said a senior TRS leader.
According to political analysts, Team KTR is now perfectly positioned to take up the number two position both in the government and within the party, after his father K Chandrasekhar Rao.
“It is now proved that TRS is unbeatable under KCR's leadership. I thank one and all for giving a great victory to us and we will fulfill all the promises made in the campaign,“ the MBA-turned-politician said soon after the results were out.Between 2004 and 2014 he was elected three times from the Sircilla Assembly constituency in Karimnagar.
To him, the thumping victory didn't come as much of a surprise even though many of his party colleagues had a different opinion.And this confidence was evident right from the beginning when KTR blatantly told rivals ­ TDP and BJP ­ to be prepared to face a crushing defeat. His prediction couldn't have been more accurate.