Congress Swings Telangana By Tapping Anti-Incumbency Against KCR, Courting Minorities, and Promising Welfare Reforms
• Congress took advantage of anti-incumbency against KCR's government, swinging votes in rural and semi-urban strongholds of BRS • Congress' "six guarantees" welfare promises around issues like women, farmers, housing, power, education, and healthcare resonated with discontented voters • Congress swung minority votes, especially Muslims, through its "Minority Declaration" • BJP weakened itself in Telangana by replacing its chief, leaving Congress as the main opposition • Congress corruption allegations against KCR/BRS stuck, and BRS couldn't shake them off • Congress ran an aggressive social media campaign of videos, memes, GIFs focused on anti-incumbency that boosted its support