A slew of populist schemes like Rythu Bandhu investment support scheme for farmers and social security pensions paid handsome dividends to TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, who led his party to a thumping victory in Telangana. The TRS secured a two-thirds majority, winning 84 seats in the 119-member Assembly in a resounding endorsement of KCR's popularity.

Rao's focus on agriculture, rolling out the Ryuthu Bandu investment support scheme for farmers that gave tillers Rs 8,000 per annum per acre and a Rs 5 lakh insurance cover for farmers consolidated his support base all over the state, especially in rural areas.