Hyderabad: The Congress appears to command greater support among women voters in the state, thanks to its Mahalakshmi, Gruha Jyothi and Indiramma housing schemes. Lakhs of women are enjoying the benefits of the Mahalakshmi free bus scheme every day in TSRTC buses, free power of 200 units every month, gas cylinders for Rs 500 and getting one-time benefit of Indiramma houses.
Women voters outnumber men in 13 of the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state and the Congress is expected to gain a higher percentage of women vote share. In recent Assembly polls, the Congress won 37 of 56 Assembly constituencies where women voters outnumbered men, clearly indicating the huge support base of women that it enjoyed on the back of Mahalakshmi, Gruhalakshmi and Indiramma Houses guarantees promised to women.
As per latest voters data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in March for he Lok Sabha elections, the number of women voters is more than men in Adilabad, Peddapalli, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Zaheerabad, Medak, Mahbubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Bhongir, Warangal, Mahbubabad and Khammam constituencies, where women can play a decisive role in deciding the fortunes of political parties.
As per ECI data, there were 3,30,21,735 registered voters in Telangana state as of February this year. Of this, 1,65,87,221 are women, 1,64,31,777 men and 2,737 third gender voters. There were 1,55,444 more women voters than men and the number is expected to rise further by the time polling is held. The Nizamabad constituency has 90,953 more female voters when compared to male voters, which is highest in the state.
The Congress, BJP and the BRS are walking an extra mile to woo women voters.
The Congress is undertaking an aggressive campaign on how Mahalakshmi scheme to provide free travel in TSRTC buses was being utilised by nearly 30 lakh every women and how it resulted in women saving Rs 1,177 crore in travel expenses within four months since the Congress government launched the scheme on December 9, 2023.
Each household is saving on average up to Rs 2,000 per month in travel expenses. Similarly, gas cylinders at Rs 500 apiece was being availed by nearly 40 lakh households.
The Congress is highlighting the Gruha Jyothi scheme to provide free power to households of up to 200 units. Nearly 40 lakh households are covered under this scheme which resulted in savings of up to Rs 1,000 per month.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has recently launched Indiramma Houses scheme under which 3,500 women beneficiaries in every Assembly constituency will be selected covering a total 4.5 lakh beneficiaries across the state. In the recent Assembly polls more women voted than the men in 56 constituencies. Of these, the Congress has won 37 seats and the BJP six.
