In the GHMC elections, although the TRS has emerged as the single largest party, its vote-share (35.81%) is only 0.25% more than that of the BJP (35.56%). This has stunned observers, who are shocked that the saffron party has inched closer to the pink party in its bastions.

Political pundits will analyze what might unfold in the coming years in Telangana. In the civic polls, the Congress party won a vote-share of just 6.67%. The TDP, which is now a zero, won 1.66%. What portion of the vote-shares of these two parties will go to the BJP will determine whether the saffron party stands a good chance of unseating KCR in the 2023 Assembly elections.

This was mainly an anti-incumbency vote that the BJP got. Flood-hit areas of Hyderabad have voted bigly for the party. The mishandling of the pandemic, too, may have played a role.

That said, Bandi Sanjay and a host of other BJP leaders are looking poised to strengthen their party even more in the coming years.