HYDERABAD: Liquor sales have touched an all-time high in the Munugode Assembly constituency as the byelection polling date of November 3 draws near.
Excise officials said alcohol sales in the Munugode constituency were less than Rs 100 crore per month prior to August, when Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy quit the Congress party and also the Assembly to join the BJP, thereby forcing the byelection.
Officials said liquor sales crossed Rs 100 crore mark in August, went up further to touch Rs 150 crore mark in September and set to cross Rs 200 crore mark in October with all the major political parties trying to lure voters with liquor.
There are 29 liquor stores in the constituency, and since August, sales at each of these stores have increased by more than two-fold. Liquor sales in Munugode reached Rs 90 crore in the first 15 days of this month, and as election day draws closer, officials anticipate that sales would reach the highest-ever level of Rs 200 crore by October 31.
After it became clear that a byelection would be held as a result of Rajgopal Reddy's resignation on August 2, liquor sales in Munugode began to trend upward from August. Leaders and supporters of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the opposition Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) started flocking to the constituency from August 3.
Every party is holding liquor parties at night for party workers and voters due to which October is witnessing unprecedented liquor sales. For Dasara festival on October 5, all the major parties reportedly supplied liquor to households, which too contributed to higher sales.
The three major parties started holding public meetings in the constituency with state-level leaders and local leaders and cadres started campaigning even before the bypoll notification was issued or the parties finalised their candidates. The parties have been competing to host meetings with voters in villages, mandals, municipalities, as well as to host free luncheons and dinner parties for voters where liquor was served along with food. As a result, alcohol sales increased dramatically in August and September.
Liquor bottle without brand name
Rs 100 crore in August
Rs 150 crore in September
Rs 200 crore mark likely in October
29 liquor stores in Mungode
All three political parties holding liquor parties at night for party workers and voters
For Dasara festival on October 5, parties reportedly supplied liquor to households
