The Congress, in its campaign to woo Hyderabad voters, has divided the erstwhile Hyderabad district into three, namely Old City, Khairatabad and Secunderabad, all of which, the party claims, are plagued by failing public infrastructure that has turned the city into a ‘big slum’.
Blaming the nine-year rule of the BRS, alleging corruption and incompetence, for lack of progress in the city, the Congress said it is coming up with a separate Old City Declaration to focus on issues in the oldest parts of the city. They said that lack of employment is leading to youths whiling away their time, indulging in crimes and drug use.
Old City
“The Chabutra concept exists and is thriving. Youth hang around late in the night as they don’t have gainful employment. Of the 238 government schools that were opened by the YSR government, just 25 exist now. Contrary to perception the Old City has a mixed population, there are around 600 Muslims for every 1,000 people in the area. These issues affect all communities,” said Hyderabad DCC president Sameer Waliullah.
Congress leaders said that the Hyderabad district is marked by big nalas that inevitably overflow during rains and are not covered, especially in the Yakutpura and Charminar areas, which are not low-lying, but suffer due to lack of desilting.
Civic issues are also expected to be a major issue in the elections. “Apart from the Osmania Hospital, there is no other major health facility accessible to people here. Fifty to sixty per cent of the people live in slums and can’t afford private hospitals. The AIMIM does not talk about these and wants the people to remain in the same condition,” Waliullah said.
“We are including all these in the Old City Declaration. We will surely increase our vote share this time and try to win. The BRS fields weak candidates and ensures a cake walk for the AIMIM. The BJP is not a contender here and we stood second earlier,” the Congress leader said.
Asked about their campaign strategy, Waliullah said, “We are taking the Old City Declaration with our door-to-door campaign. Stickers will be pasted on doors, walls and autos to take our message. Corner meetings and public meetings will also be held once the candidates are fixed.”
Secunderabad
The Secunderabad district has a mixed population, but is mainly affected by generally poor voter turnouts. The encroachment of nalas, over the years, has made civic woes a critical issue in public perception.
Anil Kumar Yadav, DCC president of Secunderabad, said: “The capacity of nalas have not been increased to carry the runoff water. The BRS is our main contender. The BJP will not have any impact, their better showing during the GHMC polls happened in a different context. The removal of Bandi Sanjay Kumar and failure to arrest Kavitha in the liquor scam have convinced people that Congress is the only alternative to the BRS. Voters in Hyderabad are exhausted and want change.”
He said that the BRS government built only 3,000 double-bedroom houses of the promised one lakh houses. “Skilling of youth who are unable to find jobs in the IT sector and reining in fees in private schools are some of the issues we will campaign on,” he said.
Khairatabad
Waterlogging, overflowing garbage, leaking water pipelines and failure to deliver double bedrooms are the problems mainly affecting residents of Khairatabad district. The available land has been allotted to the BRS leaders instead of building flats for people, Congress leaders alleged.
Congress leader Feroz Khan and others, who complained to the Election Commission of India of bogus votes, have been complaining of inaction. The state EC, they say, has conveyed to them that the deletion of fake votes cannot be done without verifying death certificates. They aver they will now confront those who come with slips to vote in the name of these dead people.
The main battle in Karwan and Nampally would be between AIMIM and Congress. In Goshamahal, the main contenders are BJP and Congress.
The leaders are mulling the release of a separate manifesto for Greater Hyderabad, saying candidates will release a manifesto specific to the area. The district committee will release posters and pamphlets, place advertisements in newspapers, and on autos and promote its promises on social media platforms.
