Telangana presents a strange picture. All the surveys conducted show that KCR is still hugely popular, but his MLAs are not. In fact many of the MLAs are quite unpopular and are facing severe anti-incumbency. This is the result of a series of surveys commissioned by KCR himself.
The surveys showed that the voters want to punish the sitting MLAs. They want these MLAs to be replaced. The general complaint is that the MLAs are not accessible. The voters feel that the MLAs do not even bother to visit the constituency and understand the problems being faced by the voters. The surveys show that the same situation exists in over 100 constituencies.
The suvesy conducted by Prashant Kishor have clearly shown that there exists serious anti-incumbency against the sitting MLAs. Even KCR’s own surveys have given the same results. A final report would be available in 15 days, but prima facie, 103 MLAs face severe voter anger, say the surveys.
But the big challenge before KCR is that he cannot replace all these MLAs. Many of them could defy the party diktat and fight the elections as independents. If that happens, they could eat into the ruling party’s votes. So, KCR is said to have decided to give them some time to mend their ways. He is said to have warned such MLAs and asked them to improve their performance immediately.
