KCR's magic works for MLA list rising from 63 to 82

The ruling TRS in Telangana had 63 MLAs at the time of last elections 20 months ago. Now the TRS strength has risen to 82. The increase of 19 MLAs is being attributed as Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao's magic. The people as such are not bothered about defections. Instead they are praising the policies of the Chief Minister. In case of by-elections, they are returning TRS candidates with increasing majorities. The Chief Minister has started Operation Akarsh to attract MLAs from the opposition parties. Eighteen MLAs beonging to various parties flocked to the TRS. The first MLA to be drawn by Akarsh was Indrakaran Reddy of the Bahujan Samaj Party who made a surprise win in the poll. He was followed by Konappa. Then TDP's Talasani Srinivas Yadav started a beeline. Challa Dharma Reddy, Manchireddy Kishan Reddy, Teegala Krishna Reddy, Madhavaram Krishna Rao, Sayanna, Vivekananda, Yerrabelli Dayakar Rao, Prakash Goud and Rajender Reddy walked the same route. Four MLAs belonging to the Congress and two of the YCP also joined the TRS. In the Narayankhed byelection also, the TRS registered a win. Its strength is 82 now. The party-wise break-up in the assembly is as follows: TRS 82, Congress 16, MIM 7, TDP 5 and BJP 5. With this strength, the TRS is poised to win the two Rajya Sabha seats, for which the elections would be held in June.