Triangular contest in Nizamabad

Nizamabad: TRS party’s stronghold, the undivided Nizamabad district is witnessing triangular contests in majority of the Assembly constituencies. Ruling TRS and opposition Congress contestants are facing neck-to-neck fight in several constituencies. However, BJP candidates have emerged strong contenders in Nizamabad urban, Kamareddy, Jukkal, Nizamabad rural and Armoor Assembly constituencies resulting in a triangular contest between the TRS, Congress and BJP.

An exclusive urban voters’ constituency, Nizamabad urban is witnessing a triangular fight. TRS candidate, sitting MLA Bigala Ganesh is hoping to retain the seat as Congress candidate Taher is facing rebel candidate N. Ratnakar and BJP candidate Endala Laxminarayana faces internal bickering.

There is a sizeable Muslim population in this segment. They will be the deciding factor in the results. It will be interesting to note who will be benefited with the division of minority votes in the urban constituency. Polarisation of votes on the lines of religion is not possible in Nizamabad as candidates with secular backgrounds are in the fray, political observers have said.

After Nizamabad urban, Kamareddy Assembly constituency has turned a high-end segment where, Congress senior leader Shabbir Ali is facing his long time political rival, TRS candidate Gampa Govardhan. Meanwhile, BJP nominee K. Venkatram Reddy also has to sweat it out for victory. Instead of the political party’s influence, it is the personal image of the candidates that has turned crucial in Kamareddy.

In Nizamabad rural Assembly constituency, another triangular contest is being witnessed as TRS candidate Bajireddy Govardhan, Congress nominee Dr R. Bhupathi Reddy (TRS rebel MLC) and BJP candidate G. Anand Reddy have all readied the ground for their victory for a long time. Anti-incumbency, money and muscle power will play key roles in this Assembly constituency. Tribals will be the deciding factor in this segment. The political scenario in Armoor Assembly constituency is changing frequently. TRS candidate A. Jeevan Reddy, BJP candidate P. Vinay Kumar Reddy and Congress nominee Akula Lalitha have conducted their election campaigns with vigour. In Balkonda Assembly constituency, TRS candidate V. Prashanth Reddy is confident of victory as he had pre-planned all arrangements for advanced polls.

In Jukkal Assembly constituency, Congress rebel Aruna Tara is in the fray as BJP nominee. Congress senior leader S. Gangaram, TRS candidate Hanmanth Shinde are hopeful of victory.

Mr. Shinde is confident that he would retain the MLA seat comfortably. In Yellareddy, TRS candidate Mr. E. Ravinder Reddy is facing stiff competition from Congress candidate Mr. J. Surender.

A pall of sympathy is looming over Mr Surender as he has lost Assembly elections thrice so far as Telugu Desam, Congress and Independent candidate from Yellareddy segment. In this context, TRS trouble shooter Mr. T. Harish Rao had conducted an election campaign in Gandhari of Yellareddy constituency to consolidate the positivity for Mr. Ravinder Reddy. However, caretaker minister Mr. Pocharam Srinivas Reddy is confident that he will sail through in Banswada, but Congress nominee Mr. K. Balraj is hopeful for a silent and positive verdict.

In the Bodhan Assembly constituency, Congress veteran Mr. P. Sudarshan Reddy and TRS candidate Mr. Shakeel are facing a neck to neck fight. Bodhan is the only municipality in the erstwhile Nizamabad district, where Muslims have a majority population. Interestingly, MP Ms. Kalvakuntla Kavitha is a voter of Bodhan constituency as her in-laws belong to Pothangal village in Navipet mandal.