TRS gaining edge over BJP in campaigning with display of gas cylinders

Karimnagar: For the past few days, TRS leaders have started focusing mainly on the issue of increase in prices of cooking gas, petrol and diesel as also other items of daily use, in their election campaigns in Huzurabad constituency. The idea is to corner the BJP.

By preparing models of gas cylinders, TRS leaders displayed them at important locations in five mandal headquarters in the constituency and are seeking to turn the public mood against the BJP in the assembly bypoll campaign. The polling is slated for October 30.

TRS leaders are appealing to the people to think twice if they were to vote for the BJP as the Modi government is “adding” to their burden by way of steady hikes in prices of essentials, cooking gas, petrol and diesel.

Participating in the roadshows and public meetings, finance minister Harish Rao also had gas cylinder on the stage. Many, it would appear, are enthused at such gimmicks.

At an election meeting in Veenavanka mandal on Monday along with TRS party candidate Gellu Srinivas Yadav, the finance minister said the BJP government would raise the price of gas per cylinder after October 2, from the existing Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200, and it was just waiting for completion of the present round of elections.

He appealed to the people that before going to vote on October 30, they should pray before the gas cylinder and then vote for TRS party to bury BJP in the ground.

“The sound of EVM buttons as the people press while voting for the TRS party must reach the Delhi’s gates so that the BJP government can realise how worse is the people’s current plight, he said.

Harish even challenged the BJP leaders by saying that if they have the guts, they must ask votes from the people only after decreasing the price of a cooking gas per cylinder to Rs 500.

Counter-attacking the TRS leaders on the increase in the price of cooking gas, the BJP leaders told campaign meetings that the state government was collecting Rs 291 as tax on each fill of gas cylinders from the people. "Yet, the TRS is trying to fool the people by blaming the Centre and the BJP," they said. However, the BJP is mainly focusing on the failures of the TRS government and the family rule of chief minister KCR.

Some women in Huzurabad town, worried over the increase in price of cooking gas and other daily items of use have in recent days said they have cut down on the use of all essentials at home. Some of them told Deccan Chronicle that they have switched over to electric stoves to save on gas.

“The common public is suffering a lot in the fights between the political parties. One is fighting for image (TRS) and the other is fighting for self-respect (BJP). But no one is bothered about the people’s problems and are not speaking as to what steps they will take to resolve them,” a housewife said.