Famous for returning Indira Gandhi to power in 1980 after the first non-Congress government at the Centre fell, the electorate of Medak Parliamentary constituency are now in a dilemma. The choice will now be between the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the Congress, as a strong Telangana sentiment occupies their thought the most.
Apart from reviewing the performance of the contesting parties, they are weighing options as to who could serve their needs best now. However, they are unable to make up their minds as to whom to give the credit for realising the dream of statehood to Telangana. Since sitting MP M. Vijayashanti, who was elected on a TRS ticket, has switched loyalties to the Congress and will be contesting the Medak Assembly constituency, the Congress has picked newcomer P. Shravan Kumar Reddy.
He is pitted against TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who is also contesting one of the Assembly segments (Gajwel), and C. Narendranath of the BJP, who contested on a Congress ticket last time. Reviewing Ms. Vijayashanti’s performance, the electorate expressed mixed opinions about the former cine actor.
“She did some work, but some of the sanctioned funds were swindled by local leaders,” Thirmulaiah and Ramulu, villagers of Nizampet near Ramayampet, said.
Kailash of K. Venkatampalli near Dubbak said the MP had begun doling out funds only last year keeping the elections in view.
On her part, Ms. Vijayashanti had this to say: “I have utilised my MPLADS funds for drinking water needs in villages, sanctioned motor pumpsets, internal roads, drains, check-dams, ambulance services and also the long-pending Medak-Akkampet railway line. The funds at an MP’s disposal are too little.” “Nobody could address all our problems like Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy did, but someone like Mr. Narendranath (BJP), an industrialist, could prove a better MP,” people in some villages felt. Congress candidate Dr. Shravan Reddy said he was not worried about his opponents or how big they were, but was sincerely making an effort to win over people by projecting the Congress manifesto.
However, most voters contacted by The Hindu during a visit to the Parliamentary constituency recently were unanimous in their view that the movement led by TRS had a significant role. Satish Reddy, a student from Gajwel, said opinion was building up in favour of the TRS as polling day approached.