Multi-cornered contest on the cards

Rajendranagar: The constituency is headed for a multi-corner fight, with rebels storing into the poll fray, bitter as they are over denial of tickets despite strong following and long service to their parties. Some parties have denied tickets even to their tall leaders in the constituency. Rebels are certainly going to queer the pitch for the official contestants, say political observers. The varying profiles of voter populace is also adding to the problem. The population continues to grow rapidly because of exponential development along arterial roads connecting Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) to major parts of the city, including the IT corridor.

With at least six top contenders vying with each other, the election is very likely to throw up a surprise. Money and muscle power will be in full play as because of the high stakes involved in the rapidly growing constituency – both voters and affluency-wise. The constituency falls under Ranga Reddy district and is part of Chevella Lok Sabha constituency. It was formed following delimitation in 2009. Earlier, it was part of the Chevella Assembly constituency. It has both urban and rural voters comprising a total of 3.6 lakh. Migrants from AP and North India and considerable percentage of Muslims also play a major role in shaping the dynamics of the constituency.

Rajendranagar is also one of the 24 constituencies of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Following the development of RGIA and booming IT sector, the entire suburb has become a top location for real estate activity, besides industries producing plastic goods and other products. T Prakash Goud contested from Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and won both 2009 and 2014 elections. However, he has switched loyalties to the TRS party. Ever since the formation of constituency, TDP and Congress continue to vie for power, but former TDP won in both the Assembly elections. With strong backing from the residents of Shamshabad and different pockets in other areas, Prakash Goud has been putting in huge efforts and leaving no stone unturned, as he contests for the first time on a TRS ticket. He is facing some over alleged land-related issues, which are sure to be highlighted by his rivals as well as political detractors in the election campaign.

Following the decision of the TRS to give ticket to the incumbent, the Corporator of Mailardevpally, Thokala Srinivas Reddy, who defeated MLA’s brother T Premdas Goud in GHMC elections, has announced that he would contest as an independent in the upcoming elections. It is said that the leader’s family remains the top rival of former TDP leader and enjoys good support locally. Earlier, Reddy’s family remained with Congress and prior to GHMC elections (2016) they moved to TRS. Thokala Srisailam Reddy, the father of rebel candidate, tried to get the BJP ticket for his son. Following BJP’s announcement that Baddam Balreddy would be contesting from the party, they decided to contest independently. Srinivas Reddy is trying to cash in on the anti-incumbency and disenchantment among the local leaders from the TRS.

The camp of Grand Alliance (GA), failing to gauge the resistance from the TRS announcement, announced TDP’s Ganesh Gupta as their candidate. With the announcement of Gupta, P Karthik Reddy, son of former Home Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy (contesting from Maheshwaram), announced his resignation from the party, which would seriously debt the prospects of GA, given the influence the family enjoys in the constituency. Even though Kathik Reddy filed nomination papers, he is not ready to contest as an independent for now, and has been pursuing the matter with the Congress leaders to reconsider the decision. Ganesh Gupta, TDP’s party state secretary, is another rival of Prakash Goud, ever since they both were in TDP and they both enjoy the support in Shamshabad and its neighbouring villages.

Baddam Balreddy is expecting to get the votes of North India migrants and Hindi-speaking residents. He has already hit the top gear in campaigning. On the other hand, MIM’s Mirza Rahmat Baig is eyeing votes from Muslim pockets like Hassan Nagar and Shastripuram, which borders Bahadurpura and Chandrayangutta.

BY Md Nizamuddin & Anjaiah Bachu