Hyderabad: The Amberpet constituency attains significance in the ensuing general elections with senior Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao returning to electoral fray after 25 years. Mr Rao, being a BC leader, is also eyeing the chief minister’s post in the newly forming Telangana state if the Congress comes to power.
It will be a face-off between Mr Rao and BJP Telangana president Kishan Reddy, with the latter being the sitting MLA for over two terms.
“It’s not about the political seniority but the work and availability to the people that matters. He (Mr Hanumantha Rao) was never seen interacting with people in the last 20 years. I have been in direct link with the people of my constituency. Since the last 10 years I have been doing padayatras in the region and addressing people’s problems. It is not just during election time that I try to contact people. They need development and I have done a lot and my work speaks for me. Roads, water, electricity and all other facilities can be seen in the region. There were only eight school buildings here before I was elected; now there are over 17. Even a BC hostel has been built during my period,” said Mr Reddy.
However, Mr Rao is confident that people of the constituency will elect him as they are fed up with outsiders contesting from the region.
“I have full support of the locals as they are fed up with outsiders. I am not a leader who, after coming to power, will shift base to Banjara Hills or Jubilee Hills. I was born here and have continued to live in the region despite any posts I was given,” said Mr Rao.
Asked about Mr Reddy’s victories in the last two terms, Mr Rao said that there were no strong contenders during the period. “There were no strong contenders in the last two terms. After my majority win in 1989, in the next elections the Congress government had an understanding with the TRS. I was not given a ticket,” said Mr Rao.
Recounting his developmental works, he added, “I made sure that Urdu and Telugu medium schools were set up in the constituency. I saved six acres of lake area that was subjected to encroachment. I intend to build an auditorium, develop parks and other infrastructure that locals want.”
The constituency comprises 2.45 lakh voters including a sizable minority population of around 56,000. After snapping ties with the Congress, the MIM this time has fielded Mr Naliganti Sara from the region while TRS has fielded Mr Edla Sudhakar Reddy.
