Telangana: Local Issues and Odd Promises Sway Sarpanch Polls
Candidates who focused on specific village-level concerns found success, while those relying on dramatic gestures or exaggerated pledges failed to impress voters
Karimnagar: The ongoing Sarpanch elections in the erstwhile Karimnagar and Warangal districts have seen voters prioritising highly localised and, at times, unusual campaign promises over traditional demands such as roads and drinking water.
Candidates who focused on specific village-level concerns found success, while those relying on dramatic gestures or exaggerated pledges failed to impress voters.
In Nerella gram panchayat of Hanamkonda district, the campaign revolved around the village’s persistent monkey menace. Supporters of Sarpanch candidate Jetti Nagalakshmi even dressed up in chimpanzee and bear costumes to highlight the issue. The focused campaign paid off, with Nagalakshmi winning the election held on Thursday.
In Arepally village of Rajanna Sircilla district, candidate Itikiyala Raju promised a cash gift of ₹10,016 as kanyadanam on the birth of a girl child. The promise struck a chord with voters, leading to his election as Sarpanch.
In contrast, political manoeuvring failed in Nagireddypur village of Karimnagar district. A local man, Muche Shankar, hurriedly married a woman from Nalgonda after the Sarpanch seat was reserved for an SC woman, hoping she could contest. However, the marriage took place after the voter enrolment deadline, making her ineligible. The Congress candidate, Gunukonda Yoshada, eventually won the seat.
In Mahabubabad district, a physically challenged man, Thavu Naik, walked nearly 200 km from Guduru to Hyderabad to campaign among migrant voters for his wife Pushpa, who contested as an Independent. Despite his efforts, the Congress-backed Nanupa Sujatha won the election.
Meanwhile, in Eturnagaram gram panchayat of Mulugu district, extravagant promises such as five years of free Wi-Fi and television channels for every household failed to attract voters. The BRS-supported Kakulamarri Srilatha registered a decisive victory, polling 5,520 votes, far ahead of her rivals.
The results underline that while unconventional promises can influence voters, credibility and relevance to local needs remain decisive factors.
