The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) led by caretaker chief minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekhar Rao successfully bucked the the anti-incumbency trend sweeping across the nation today. Elsewhere in the country, as seen in the northern states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chattisgarh, anti-incumbency sentiment unseated Vasundhara Raje, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh. Mizoram also dislodged the Congress government.

How could TRS check the tide of anti-incumbency?

KCR harped on his welfare schemes and to give him due credit, people bought his logic. They experienced for themselves what he reiterated in his election rallies--24x7 power supply, free power to farmers, the benefits of Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bhima and Shaadi Mubarak, among other schemes.

A common refrain among people of the state was that KCR had only four years and did not do a bad job. He deserves another term was the popular perception. Ranged against him was what appeared to be a powerful opposition alliance in the form of the Praja Kutami cobbled together by the Congress leaders and Chandrababu Naidu.

The wily TDP chief thought he could go into Telangana piggy back riding on the Congress party's goodwill. Yes, he brought in with him extensive media coverage and his resources gave the alliance a much-needed boost. But in the final analysis, Chandrababu turned out to be the proverbial albatross around the Mahakutami's neck.

KCR's emphasis on Chandrababu Naidu's attempts to stage a backdoor entry into Telangana did not go unheeded.

KCR pointed out at his election rallies that Chandrababu went back on his commitment to honour the power purchase agreements between the two states after the bifurcation of undivided Andhra Pradesh.

Chandrababu also wrote letters to the Centre against irrigation projects in Telangana, KCR repeatedly reminded people at election meetings. In rallies across the state, KCR asked audiences whether they would want to be enslaved by Amaravati or Delhi. The reply everywhere, was a resounding 'no'. Election results have borne this out.

Also Read: TRS Set To Form Government In Telangana With Huge Majority