TRS wins 3 civic bodies

Firming up its hold over Telangana, the ruling TRS today swept the civic body elections in Warangal, Khammam and Achampet in Mahabubnagar district, drubbing BJP and TDP. In Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation, the second biggest city in Telangana after Hyderabad, TRS bagged 44 wards among the total 58, followed by Independents (8), Congress (4) and one each by BJP and CPI(M). In Khammam Municipal Corporation, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) nominees emerged victorious in as many as 34 among the total 50 wards. The main opposition Congress salvaged some pride by winning 10. The CPI, CPI (M) and YSR Congress secured two each. Khammam is represented in Lok Sabha by YSR Congress' P Srinivasa Reddy. Besides, the TRS won all the 20 wards of Achampet Nagar Panchayat in Mahabubnagar district. The stupendous victory of TRS in the three urban local bodies comes after the massive win in bypolls of Medak and Warangal Lok Sabha constituencies, and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections. Meanwhile, the results of the Warangal, Khammam and Achampet local bodies polls came as a major shock to the opposition TDP as it drew a blank. The disappointing defeat adds to the misery of TDP, a formidable force in Telangana not too long ago, in the wake of 10 of its total 15 MLAs shifting loyalty to TRS in recent months. Two more TDP MLAs in Telangana are likely to cross over to TRS soon. This is also the first time since 2014 general elections that the BJP and TDP, who are partners at the Centre and Andhra Pradesh, fought the elections without an alliance.