Hyderabad, December 12: K Chandrasekhar Rao, President of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and caretaker of the state is all set to take oath as the Chief Minister of Telangana on Thursday, i.e. December 12. On Tuesday, Rao's TRS steamrolled a feeble opposition challenge to win the polls by a thumping majority to form its second successive government in the state. The win can be attributed to riding pro-Telangana sentiments and the success of a slew of initiatives that were launched by his government. Telangana Assembly Elections 2018 Winners List Here.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won 88 seats while the Congress won 19 seats in the 119-member Assembly. Rao, 64, emerged as the mascot of Telangana pride as his struggle in the creation of the youngest state of the country in 2014 was remarkable. TRS Set to Win Telangana Assembly Elections 2018, Crosses Halfway Mark. 

TRS won 88 seats, just two short of a three-fourths majority, sources in the state office of the states chief electoral officer said. Telangana went to polls on December 7. The election in the state was held in a single-phase wherein 73.2 per cent voter turnout was recorded.

According to reports, Rao himself won by a margin of over 51,000 votes from his Gajwel seat, defeating V Pratap Reddy of the Congress. Rao's son K T Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao, both ministers in his caretaker government, also won by impressive margins in Telangana.

In September, Rao had dissolved the Assembly, eight months ahead of schedule, which called for early elections. The political gamble paid off handsomely on Tuesday when the party emerged victorious in the 119-seat Assembly. Reports stated that KCR’s decision to call for the state elections is was likely influenced by the uncertainties in the run-up to the 2019 general elections.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 12, 2018 09:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).