Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has pinned hopes on splitting of votes between the opposition parties. The Congress’ thumping victory in neighbouring Karnataka might not repeat in Telangana, political analysts say. However, there is talk that the Congress might get strengthened in Telangana.
It is learnt that KCR had shared an opinion with his aides that his BRS will not have to face defeat in the Assembly polls, as there will be splitting of votes. He has a feeling that there would be no problem even if the BJP gains strength in urban areas and the Congress in rural areas. He seems to be accepting that people in the state are not happy with the BRS rule but strongly believes that the anti-BRS votes would get split between the Congress and BJP. KCR is confident that the splitting of votes would push his party to power again. There is nothing wrong in KCR’s calculations.
However, KCR’s belief that all the people in urban areas would favour the BJP and the rural folk would vote for the Congress, seems to be lacking any logic.
If we consider the voting in Karnataka, the Congress secured good number of seats both in urban and rural areas. In Greater Bengaluru, the Congress and BJP won almost equal number of seats which should help one understand people’s preference.
If there is a wave, none can predict in whose favour it would travel. If people think there is no use of voting for the BJP, it will not be something different for the residents of Greater Hyderabad and those in the rural areas. If they set a target to defeat KCR, the electorate would vote even for the Congress. However, there is no guarantee that the opinion of the entire electorate would be the same but KCR hopes that splitting of votes would help his party.