Huzurnagar By-Election Results Today

The ruling TRS and the main Opposition party the Congress, the latter's political fate hinging on the outcome of the Huzurnagar by-election held on October 21, are keeping their fingers crossed about the result of the by-election to be declared on Thursday.

While the TRS is confident of annexing the seat from the Congress, the latter is also putting on a game face.

The by-election was necessitated due to the resignation of the previous MLA, TPCC President Uttam Kumar Reddy, after he was elected to the Lok Sabha.

The Congress has fielded Uttam Kumar Reddy's spouse Padmavathi Reddy, who had in fact faced defeat in the nearby Kodad Assembly Constituency in the Assembly elections held in December 2018. The TRS, on the other hand, re-nominated Saidi Reddy though he was trounced by Uttam Kumar Reddy in 2018. The TDP and BJP also entered the fray this time though their presence is inconsequential except that they could wean away some votes that might have otherwise gone to either the TRS or the Congress.

The TRS succeeded in coming to an understanding with the CPI that the latter would extend support to it. However, to its dismay, the CPI withdrew its support as a protest against KCR's handling of the ongoing RTC strike.

KCR is reported to have taken the by-election very seriously since the TRS had faced a severe drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections of April in spite of the sweeping mandate it had received in the previous Assembly elections in 2018. KCR prepared the poll strategy on his own, and entrusted the campaign to his most savvy cabinet ministers and legislators, directing them to tour and hold public meetings extensively in the entire constituency.

However, the strike by the RTC employees came as a spanner in the wheel. The CM's refusal to invite the striking employees for talks and in terminating their services (48,000 out of 50,000 TSRTC employees went on strike) escalated his woes. Meanwhile, the RTC employees succeeded in garnering the support of various trade unions, teachers and students organisations, and the bus strike gathered momentum with each passing day putting the common man to hardship.

The RTC strike took a serious turn with some of the employees resorting to taking their lives, and responding to some PILs, the High Court took the Chief Minister and his administration to task.

Against this background, the by-election in Huzurnagar has turned quite crucial. If the TRS wins it, as the exit polls predict, it will undoubtedly be a shot in the arm for KCR and a morale booster to the ruling party as it grapples with the RTC strike. It will also help the TRS further decimate the crumbling Congress. However, if the Congress retains the seat, it will help provide the much-needed boost for the party to rise again, and give the TSRTC JAC some more ammunition.