It's a Straight Fight Between BRS and Congress for Nalgonda's 12 Seats
Hyderabad: Since the formation of the Telangana state, the political dynamics of the erstwhile united Nalgonda district have changed significantly, going from a Left-dominated region to one where BRS and Congress have gained significant ground.
The BJP has not been able to make much of an impact here, except for the Munugode byelection in 2022, when Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy switched allegiance to the saffron party.
In this context, the 2023 poll battle here is also set to be a close competition between the Congress and BRS for the 12 seats in the district, where it is believed that the party securing the highest share would inevitably form the government.
In the 2014 elections, then TRS bagged six seats, Congress five and CPI one, following which TRS duly formed the government. In 2018 too, the BRS formed the government after winning nine of 12 seats, with Congress winning the rest. In due course, BRS came to represent all 12 seats after Congress winners defected.
For the 2023 polls, the BRS is wooing the Nalgonda electorate by highlighting several developmental works undertaken since the formation of Telangana. However, sources said there is a severe anti-incumbency sentiment as many promises were not kept.
Voters from Devarakonda and Munugode Assembly constituencies questioned the government over leaving the Singarasipalli, Gottimukkula, Shivannagudem and Lakshmapur reservoir works incomplete, due to which there was not sufficient water for cultivation.
People Deccan Chronicle interacted with reminded that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had said “kurchi vesukoni koorchuni projects poorthichesta (I will personally sit here, monitor and get the projects completed)”. They also expressed unhappiness with the BRS MLAs as they did not get the benefits of various social welfare schemes announced by the government.
The Congress, meanwhile, has a strong presence in the district, given veterans and senior leaders K. Jana Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy brothers hold a huge sway. The leaders and their family members are contesting from five of 12 seats, with Congress hoping to bag them.
Sources in the Congress said the party is expecting to win 10 of 12 seats here.
At the ground level, the BJP was found to have considerable support in the Bhuvanagiri, Suryapet and Munugode constituencies, with the party expected to split the votes.
In the poll run-up, a common trend has been to make caste-wise promises.
Another factor is the Telanganites of Andhra origin, who are in considerable numbers in Kodad, Huzurnagar, Nagarjunasagar, Miryalaguda and Munugode Assembly constituencies.ht on part of the State Government to point fingers at the Central Government over drought relief and wanted the State Government to come out with its stand on addressing the drought situation first.
He claimed that his Government when in power in Karnataka came to the rescue of the people in distress and also released double the funds to tackle drought as per the guidelines framed under NDRF. The LoP said when BJP was in power funds were released to address the drought situation and later on funds came in for the State and asked the State Government “Why can’t the State Government act in a similar way?”
He termed the Janata Darshan programme of the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah a “bogus” and observed that “Had the Chief Minister made an honest effort to review the performance of each Minister then there was no need for him to conduct Janata Darshan?” Ashoka said “It appears that the State Government has woken up from a deep sleep.”
