All eyes on Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat with 185 in fray

Nizamabad: Lok Sabha constituency has turned into the centre of attraction in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections as there are 185 candidates who are contesting. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter K. Kavitha is also in the fray as TRS candidate for the second time.

In this context, political circles and people in general in India and in particular in Telangana are keenly watching the Nizamabad seat.

Interestingly, Election Commission of India is also concentrating on Nizamabad as it has the highest number of contesting candidates in the fray and for the first time, the polling booths will be using M3 EVMs.

TRS is hoping that Ms Kavitha is re-elected as MP for the second time. TRS MLAs and MLCs have challenged the Opposition by stating that Ms Kavitha would win by a margin of four lakh votes. All seven Assembly constituencies under Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency have been represented by TRS MLAs. TRS is ahead of its political rivals in intensifying the election campaign and poll management. Ms Kavitha had made whirlwind tours in Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency limits to garner the support of different groups of people.

However, around 200 farmers have filed mass nominations for Nizamabad LS seat in protest against the steep fall in turmeric and red jowar prices and this has changed the situation. The protest of farmers has sent negative waves to the TRS. Reportedly, dissatisfaction within the party has also fuelled the situation. However, TRS working president KTR and MP Kavitha have criticised the Opposition parties and said that they had provoked the farmers to contest Lok Sabha election.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has also assured farmers that his government would get remunerative prices for turmeric and red jowar and also indicated that self-help groups will be roped in to purchase the turmeric for a better price. Cutting party lines, farmers have united for a common cause and have continued their protest on remunerative price issues and have demanded for a Turmeric Board.

Speaking to this correspondent, farmers’ leader Mr Anvesh Reddy said that they had succeeded in fielding 179 farmers as independent candidates in the Lok Sabha elections.

“We are hopeful that state and Central governments would respond soon on remunerative price for turmeric and red jowar,” he said.

Replying to a question, he said that farmers would impact at least one lakh votes in Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency.

BJP has fielded TRS rebel Rajya Sabha member D. Srinivas’s younger son Dharmapuri Arvind as MP candidate.  Preparing the ground for the last two years, Arvind is moving ahead aggressively.

Shockingly, DS’s elder son, former mayor D. Sanjay has joined hands with Ms Kavitha and working hard for her victory. Congress leader Mr K. Sharath Kumar confirmed that Mr Sanjay had asked them to join TRS to support Kavitha.

On the other hand, former MP Madhu Goud Yashki is also hoping for success in Lok Sabha elections.

There is a sizeable population of Muslims in Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency and majority of them support Congress in the national perspective, said Mr Tatikonda Srinivas, campaign manager of Madhu Yashki.

There is a chance of Congress victory here as BJP candidate dumped TRS vote bank, he said.