Voters long for power during campaign

Hyderabad: Kotha party, Modi, high-pitched campaigns, severe power cuts and struggle for existence goes hand-in-hand in the backward Mahbubnagar district.

“Kotha party (new party) ki vote vesta. Oka chance isdam, (I will vote for the new party. Let’s give it a chance),” mutters 70-year old Mr Mogulanna, a resident of the remote Shagapuram village of Pebbair Mandal in Mahbubnagar. A youth accompanying him adds, its “TRS sir.”

A drive down some of the bumpy, dusty roads to the remote villages in the Mahbubnagar Lok Sabha constituency and subsequent interaction with locals reflect a high-pitched electioneering where Telangana, KCR, Modi, Soniamma and Chandrababu Naidu figure in tandem with all-round misery.

Known for mass migration to Mumbai and other metropolis for a living, the desert-like district famous for manual labour still lives in darkness thanks to the severe power cuts.
Manual labour and agriculture are the major sources of livelihood for people here. The district has witnessed campaigns from bigwigs like Union minister S. Jaipal Reddy (Congress), Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy (BJP) Mr A.P. Jithender Reddy (TRS), Dr Manda Jagannadham (TRS), Ms D.K. Aruna (Gadwal Cong nominee) and others.

And while most are aware of Telangana becoming a reality, there are many living in remote areas, like Ms Nagamma, a farm labour from Ramakrishnapuram who is still unaware that the state has been divided.

“Leaders come and go. But none are helping us. I have a steel rod in my leg. I can’t work. I get a pension of Rs 200 per month. Government should help us sir,” says 50-year-old Ms Bisamma.

“There is no power from 6 am to 6 pm daily. It’s like living in a furnace. Yet I get a bi-monthly bill of Rs 450. How can we live like this?” she asks. Other women too reel out their complaints and seek the leaders’ support.

While the electorate narrate their tales of woes to the leaders, the candidates  who made tons of money and those who did not have their own problems.

“Elections are treacherous. We have to beg and satisfy everyone. Some local leaders and voters think it’s the best time to make a fast buck. Another headache is a section of the media. They come out with publicity packages costing Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for coverage till polling. Either you pay or you get blacked out,” complains a contestant.