Black sheep among TRS mantris, MLAs: Survey

Thirty per cent of ruling TRS MLAs have a negative image in their respective constituencies. Interestingly, in contrast the positive image of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who was elected from the Gajwel Assembly constituency, has shot up manifold after a series of election wins. He now tops the list of legislators with the most positive image. The positive list also includes panchayat raj, IT and municipal administration minister K.T. Rama Rao representing Sircilla, irrigation minister T. Harish Rao of Siddipet and a few other ministers.

Five ministers, howev- er, do not have a good image in their constituencies for below average performance. The overall current image of the TRS government, however, is very positive among the people. A secret survey into the performance of TRS and other MLAs found that people are upset with 30 to 40 per cent of their MLAs and unless they improve they will not get elected in the 2019 election.

Highly-placed sources said Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao got the survey done in all the 119 constituencies, especially with focus on party MLAs’ performance.

Causes for the negative image of TRS MLAs are many. Being absent from the constituency, inaccessibility, rude behaviour, non-performance, corruption, domination by kin, involvement in various trades, settlements, sand mining and contracts are some of the reasons.

“Non-availability of rural MLAs in their constituencies and camping in Hyderabad most of the time is a major factor that went against many MLAs. Such MLAs have been asked to mend their ways,” a source disclosed.

Some MLAs of other parties too figure in the negative image list and in most cases the reason is failure to deliver services to people.

Mr Rao has been warning some of the legislators against whom he had received complaints, to mend ways or face the consequences.

The source, however, refused to reveal the names of the legislators who got thumbs down from people saying that it was confidential.

Asked if there was any minister in the negative list, the source replied in the affirmative saying that at least five of them figured in it.

In the 2014 Assembly elections in TS, TRS won 63 of the 119 seats. However, defections from the Congress, TD and the BSP and victory in bypolls have increased the party’s strength to 83.

Congress had 21 MLAs, TD 15, MIM 7, BJP 5, YSRC 3, CPI, CPM and Independent one each and BSP 2.

A big chunk of MLAs are now in the TRS.