Telangana, where 17 lok Sabha and 119 Assembly constituencies will be going to polls on Wednesday, will keenly await the outcome in some of the key lok Sabha constituencies where the big guns of the different parties are trying their luck. Telangana State, which is going to be formally inaugurated on June 2, dominated the election narrative in mainly four constituencies.
They include Secunderabad, Mahbubnagar, Karimnagar and Chevella. While Secunderabad and Mahbubnagar are the only parliamentary constituencies in the region where the BJP is fancying its chances, Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy is in the fray in Mahbubnagar district. Chevella is being observed because of its unusual line up of candidates. Apart from the four, Medak constituency is in the limelight as TRS president K Chandrashekar Rao is in the fray from this constituency while his daughter K Kavita is contesting against Congress’ Madu Yashki Goud in neighbouring Nizamabad.
Here is a cursory look on the four key lok Sabha constituencies of Telangana
Chevella
lok Sabha constituency adjoining Hyderabad is witnessing an interesting three-cornered contest of new comers — industrialist Konda Visheshwara Reddy of TRS and P Kartik Reddy of Congress and T Veerender Goud of Telugu Desam backed by the BJP. All the three candidates are scions of powerful political families. Visheshwar Reddy, the richest candidate in Telangana, is the grandson of former deputy Chief Minister Ranga Reddy, after whom the Ranga Reddy district is named. His other claim to fame is his wife Sangeeta Reddy, managing director of Apollo Hospital who was in the forefront of the campaign. P Kartik Reddy’s mother Sabita Indira Reddy and Veerender Goud’s father T Devender Goud were both the Home Ministers of Andhra Pradesh — one in Congress and another in Telugu Desam Government.
The contest is so close that nobody is willing to bet on the outcome. The constituency had sent S Jaipal Reddy to the lok Sabha last time and the party was this time banking on the good hold of Sabita Indira Reddy on the constituency. Congress president Sonia Gandhi also addressed a rally here. The TRS, on the other hand, was confident of having its way due to Telangana sentiment as well as the name of Visheshwar Redd’s family. The TDP, on the other hand, was hopeful due to the settler’s factor as well as using the backward caste card. Of the 21 lakh voters, nearly one third were Seemandhra migrants known as settlers. But TDP has been weakened by the fact that its three MlAs defected to the TRS. While the Congress and the TRS candidates were Reddys, Goud is a backward class candidate. Visheshwar Reddy, who declared the assets of more than 500 crores, has made his riches a talking point. “I will not indulge in any corruption as I am rich and I don’t need money,” he told the election meetings.
MAHBUBNAGAR:
One of the most underdeveloped parts of southern Telangana, Mahbubnagar is witnessing a keen fight between three strong Reddy candidates — veteran S Jaipal Reddy, Nagam Janardhan Reddy of the BJP and AP Jitender Reddy of the TRS. Nagam had switched over from TDP to the BJP on the issue of Telangana but now has the
backing of the yellow party. Jaipal Reddy is the son of the soil who after contesting Parliamentary elections from Miryalaguda and Chevella successfully over the last one and a half decade is now trying his luck from Mahbubnagar. TRS candidate Jitendar Reddy too comes from the BJP background.
Muslims have significant presence especially in Mahbubnagar town and three other Assembly segments. In an attempt to woo the minorities, the Congress has fielded Abdullah Kotwal from Mahbubnagar Assembly constituency. Even the BJP candidate admits that the crucial role of Muslim votes canvassed for their support outside the main mosque of the city on last Friday.
Both Jaipal and Nagam are completely dependent on their name and reputation. Nagam is a MlA from Nagarkurnool and is known for accessibility. Jaipal Reddy, on the other hand, has a good image. Both the experienced leaders are using the method of winning over the village heads rather than the individual voters. BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi addressed rallies in Mahbubnagar. For TRS too it’s a prestige issue as party president K Chandrashekar Rao had won the seat in 2009.
SECUNDERABAD:
Senior BJP leader Bandaru Dattatreya, a Minister of State in Vajpayee cabinet is fighting to wrest back the seat which he had lost to Anjan Kumar Yadav ten years ago. Anjan Kumar, on the other hand, is trying for a hat-trick by banking on his good work and reputation of being a man of masses, ready to help the needy. Though Dattatreya too had the same image, he could not regain his lost magic ever since his defeat in 2004. Now he is hopeful that the alliance with the TDP, the Modi factor and anti-incumbency would help him. The TRS has fielded T Bhim Sen and is seeking support as reward for the formation of Telangana State. But neither Telangana sentiment nor the TRS organisation is very strong in this urban constituency. Of the 19 lakh voters, 12 lakh are from backward castes and both Dattatreya and Anjan Kumar are BCs. The constituency has 4 lakh Muslim votes. Though Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) has also fielded its candidate Nalla Mohan Rao, Anjan is confident that Muslims will support him because of his good work. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded retired IAS officer Chaya Ratan attracting the educated middle class.
KARIMNAGAR:
This constituency in the heart of north Telangana is the hotbed of Telangana movement and had elected TRS president K Chandrashekar Rao in 2004 and 2006 by-elections. Though traditionally the upper caste Velamas dominated the politics, despite being a miniscule minority, 2009 saw a drastic change when a backward class candidate of Congress, Ponam Prabhakar won the seat. He is seeking a second term against BJP’s Ch Vidyasagar Rao who after getting elected in 2009 in alliance with the TDP, became the Union Minister of State in Vajpayee Cabinet. But in 2009, he came third behind Ponam Prabhakar and B Vinod Kumar of the TRS, who is again in the fray making it a three cornered contest. Ponam is confident of winning by wooing both the pro-Telangana voters as well as Muslim minority, which wants to support the candidate who can defeat the BJP.
But Vidyasagar Rao, who has good organisational structure in the constituency sees brighter prospects this time because of the alliance with the TDP. Vinod Kumar said that the people know who is the real architect of Telangana. He is also hopeful of benefiting from anti-incumbency factor.