Elections 2014: Chevella to witness triangular contest

Hyderabad: Chevella Parliamentary constituency is all set to witness a close triangular contest between T. Veerender Goud of TD-BJP, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy of TRS and P. Karthik Reddy of Congress. There are over 12 lakh voters in three urban segments of Serilingampally, Rajendernagar and Maheshwaram that are parts of Greater Hyderabad and 9 lakh in rural belt of Tandur, Vikarabad, Chevella and Parigi Assembly seats.

The Seemandhra population concentrated in the three urban Assembly segments, would play a crucial role in deciding the fate of candidates. Though political pundits predict that the Seemandhra vote bank which is around 7 lakhs in Chevella Lok Sabha constituency could favour TD to express their anger against Congress and TRS for bifurcating the state, voters on their part are playing a silent game.

“Congress, TRS, TD, BJP and YSRC are reiterating that people staying in and around Greater Hyderabad are part and parcel of Telangana. Why should anyone be identified as someone from a specific region? The reality is that the state has been bifurcated. One just needs to wait for the counting day now to know the mandate of people,” said K. Prasad Choudhary, an IT employee and resident of Hitec city.

In rural segments, the scenario is quite different. The TRS has snatched from TD its three sitting MLAs of Vikarabad, Tandur and Parigi, who are now contesting on TRS tickets. This has badly damaged poll prospects of TD candidates in rural segment, while proving a huge advantage for TRS.

However, both the candidates from TRS and Congress are from Reddy community and this may result in the split of vote bank. Also, both the TRS and Congress are seeking votes in the name of “achievement of T-state and development from here on” and so the possibility of T-vote bank likely to be divided between the two parties cannot be ruled out.

52 per cent of over 21 lakh voters in Chevella constituency are from BC community. This is another deciding factor. T. Veerender Goud of TD hails from BC community and is trying to sway the BC votes in his favour. “The TRS is all set to cut into the vote bank of Congress and which will benefit TD-BJP combine. Also, people are clear in their mind now that T-state has been achieved and they need a leader like Chandrababu Naidu and Narendra Modi to develop the state and country,” said Mr Goud.