Hyderabad: Buildings located along the main roads and in big colonies in the city, are in demand, thanks to the election season. Aspirants from various political parties, who are sure of securing tickets, especially sitting MLAs, are scouting for such buildings to set up their offices to store election campaign material and to hold meetings with party activists to devise their campaign strategy.
Candidates are vying with each other to find buildings which would be convenient for both, local leaders and activists to meet daily, and would attract voters in nearby areas and colonies through campaigning activities.
Though the need for buildings will be only for a month, the building owners are willing to rent them only if the candidates agree to pay rent for at least three months. Owners are cashing in on the heavy demand by almost doubling the rent.
Owners argue that it is common to rent premises by taking “three months advance” since it will be difficult to find other customers within a gap of one month, though the parties might be using it only for a month. The sitting MLA from Amberpet, G.Kishan Reddy, has been searching for such buildings, ever since election schedule has been announced, early this month.
“Normally, I set up offices along the main roads in Tilak Nagar, Himayathnagar, Amberpet, Golnaka, Nallkunta etc. during elections. Since there will be a large number of activists in these buildings and hectic campaigning activity, it will naturally attract people in those areas besides passer-by. This is one kind of campaigning.
However, the rents for such buildings have been going up with every election. I could get such buildings for a monthly rent of Rs10,000 in 2009. Now, the owners are demanding as high as up to Rs 25,000. Some are even asking for three months? rent though the requirement is only for a month,” said the MLA.
Similar is the demand for such buildings in Habsiguda and Uppal areas.
Congress ticket aspirant, Bandari Laxma Reddy, who is aspiring for Uppal Assembly ticket in place of his elder brother and sitting MLA, Bandari Raji Reddy, who recently announced his retirement from politics, has been searching for party offices in Habsiguda, Tarnaka and Uppal areas.
“We need to set up offices in all crucial locations division-wise, which should be convenient for both local leaders and activists. All campaigning activity in each division has to be monitored from such offices. Lots of election campaign material has to be stored and supplied to activists during elections. Though the rents are increasing manifold, with each election, we have no choice,” said Mr Laxman Reddy.
However, the owners justify their demand for higher rents during elections.
“Elections come once in five years. The demand for our buildings will be more only during election season. Moreover, the competition to hire buildings is more with leaders from rival parties asking for the same buildings and are willing to pay” said A. Parameshwar, a building owner.
