Congress sure of minority votes, BJP to gain if there is cross voting
BJP candidate for Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha constituency Nagam Janardhan Reddy interacts with Muslims after Friday prayers at Badi Masjid in Mahbubnagar town (Photo : DC)
Mahbubnagar: Looking at his watch, Nagam Janardhan Reddy jumps up saying, “Arre, 1.30 ho gaya. Masjid jana hai. (Its 1.30 pm. We have to go to the mosque).” He had to go to the Mahbubnagar Badi Mosque to campaign after the last Friday prayers before the elections. Mr Janardhan Reddy is the BJP candidate for the Mahbubnagar LS constituency, who goes to mosque only for canvassing.
Muslim votes are important in Makthal, Narayanpet, Devarkadra and Mahbubnagar Assembly segments of the Parliamentary constituency. “All Muslims in Mahabubnagar district will vote for the Congress,” claims Obaidullah Kotwal confidently. TRS’ candidate for the 2009 Assembly elections, Syed Ibrahim, is contesting as an Independent these elections which may divide Muslim votes and help TRS candidate Srinivas Goud.
In the LS seat, Mr Reddy is expected to be the big gainer if Mahbubnagar witnesses large scale cross voting. For LS, several Congress and TRS loyalists in Shadnagar, Jadcherla, Mahbubnagar and Narayanpet Assembly segments are favouring Mr Reddy over their own party candidates. But, for Assembly, they are sticking to their own party. “We want a strong leader to be our MP. Mr Reddy has worked for Nagarkurnool. We hope he will work for us too,” said a TRS party worker on condition of anonymity.
Former Union minister S. Jaipal Reddy, who is the Congress candidate for the Lok Sabha seat, is reportedly banking on his image. He has maintained cordial relations with the second rung leaders of the district. On the other hand, TRS candidate A.P. Jithender Reddy is hailing Telangana statehood as his party’s achievement.
All the LS candidates for Mahbubnagar constituency are non locals, but from the same district. Mr Jaipal Reddy hails from Kalwakurthy, Mr Janardhan Reddy from Nagarkurnool and Mr Jithender Reddy from Alampur. Migration of labourers from the district and scarcity of water, along with caste problems, are the major issues of the constituency.
Despite Telangana statehood being the major poll plank this time, it may not work among the settler population in areas near Karnataka border. “Water and power supply are the major problems. We want a party that can bring more funds from the Centre. Otherwise the formation of Telangana will be of no use,” said T. Diwakar Reddy, a resident of Shadnagar.
( Source : aishik chanda )
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