As per 2011 census the population of Telangana was 3.5 crores or 35 million people. The population of the Telangana state is large and almost same as countries like Iraq, Poland, Canada or Malaysia.
The Telangana state was formed in 2014 after decades of agitation. The agitation during the final decade before formation of the new state was led by the Telangana Rasthra Samithi under the charismatic leadership of K Chandrasekhar Rao referred as KCR. KCR’s party TRS won the first election in Telangana and he has become the first chief minister of the state. KCR took the decision to dissolve the assembly 6 months early and go for an early election.
There are 119 seats and victory in 60 mla seats is needed to form a government. The 3 main players – TRS, Congress and BJP. The key fight is between TRS and Congress. The TRS has a friendly relationship with MIM a party that is popular with Muslim voters especially in Hyderabad city. The major opposition party i.e. Congress has formed an alliance to seize power from the ruling TRS. This alliance is called Mahakutami. Congress has formed the Mahakutami alliance with TDP, TJS, CPI. CPI-M has stayed away from the alliance.
This is the 1st time since the formation of TDP party 35 years back that the Congress and TDP are fighting the elections together. Traditionally, they have always been on opposing sides. Congress is the strongest party in the Mahakutami alliance and is contesting in 93 seats. 14 for TDP, 8 for Telangana Jana Samithi(TJS) and 3 for CPI.
TRS government has done many popular programs including 24 hours power supply, increased pension amount for the old and disabled, tank , rural water supply and lift irrigation schemes. Some have been implemented but the rural water supply and the lift irrigation schemes are in works or partially completed. The TRS goverment is accused of family rule as the CM’s son, daughter and nephew hold major positions. The Congress has no towering leader and has dozens of CM aspirants. Post creation of the new state, TDP is vastly weakened and no longer a party that can win elections to form a government independently. The ruling party in the center i.e. BJP has a weak presence across Telangana and is mostly restricted to the urban areas.
Elections will be held in all the 119 seats on a single day i.e. 7 December 2018. The results of the election will be made public on 11 December 2018.
This is a closely contested election with TRS being the favorite to win. The last 2 opinion polls have given different results with one predicting a TRS win and another one predicts the Mahakutami victory
The previous election results are found here.
- Election Results 2014 – Assembly Constituency – Margin of Victory
- 2014 Election Results – Assembly and Lok Sabha Constituencies in GHMC Area
- Comparing 2009 and 2016 GHMC Election Results