HYDERABAD: The government's very many welfare schemes seem to have done the magic for the TRS in Thursday’s byelection. Women, farmers and elderly voters who turned up in large numbers were openly appreciative of the schemes.
Contrary to the expectations that more voters in the 18-to-40 years age group, comprising nearly half the 2.4 lakh electorate, would turn up, it was those in the 40-70 group who made it.
Most voters, normally secretive about their choice, discarded caution and said that they had voted for the TRS and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.
"We are getting Aasara pension of Rs 2,016 from 2019. This is our livelihood. There are no middlemen. This is because of KCR," said a 70-year old woman in Narayanpur after casting her vote.
The effective delivery mechanism drew praise. "I own five acres of land. I get Rs 50,000 Rythu Bandhu every year. I also get Aasara pension besides free power for agriculture. If not for this scheme, I would have to pay Rs 2,000 for power every month," said Veeraiah, a 65-year farmer in Chandur.
M. Shilpa, a nursing student, studying in Hyderabad, was the polling agent in Chikatimamidi (booth 147). She said that she felt respect from the voters. "Congress candidate Palvai Sravanthi appreciated me for taking up the job. Police and other officials also appreciated me," she said.
