L.B. Nagar may witness polarisation of vote

It is the hub of educated middle class from both regions

April 22, 2014 10:41 am | Updated May 21, 2016 12:47 pm IST - HYDERABAD:

One division among voters likely to surface this time in the L.B. Nagar Assembly constituency is that emanating from Telangana movement and State bifurcation. The constituency being the hub of educated middle class from both the regions, and most of its residents being either serving or retired government employees, this is the only concrete factor, if at all, which could affect the numbers.

But which political party stands to gain from such division is a tough guess, and the candidates’ profiles do not add much to the surmise. Sitting Congress MLA D. Sudheer Reddy is the only veteran in the fray in this constituency, with all others, including his nearest rival, being the first-time contestants.

L.B. Nagar, as a separate constituency is also relatively new — it emerged in 2009 polls after the delimitation exercise — which makes a conjecture based on voters’ past behaviour rather wobbly.

From being part of Malakpet constituency, it now consists of six municipal divisions drawn from Malakpet, and parts of Hayatnagar, Saroornagar and Uppal.

Innumerable colonies, housing mostly employees from state and central government departments, populate this constituency, presenting altogether different political demographics. Mr. Reddy, who had served as the then HUDA Chairman, contested for the first time during last elections and won. He is hopeful that his work in the constituency will tide him over the anti-incumbency vote.

“I brought water to 125 colonies during the last five years. Considerable work has been done in providing drainage facilities and roads. If voted to power, I will continue the efforts for shifting the fruit market to Pedda Amberpet and the Dilsukhnagar bus depot to Kothapet, along with multi-level parking,” he assures, apparently targeting votes of the middle class.

However, R. Krishnaiah fielded on behalf of TDP has his own standing as much revered OBC leader who is approachable.

Further, the BJP-TDP alliance could assure a bigger vote bank, considering the Dilsukhnagar bomb blasts which rocked the area last year, and the anti-Congress sentiments of Seemandhra settlers.

“The sitting MLA has not done anything even while being in power. But I have done service for the past 40 years without wielding any power, which resulted in over 6,000 hostels, residential schools, fee reimbursement and reservations for OBCs,” Mr. Krishnaiah says.

However, his being an “outsider” to the constituency might work against him.

TRS has fielded a new candidate M.Rammohan Goud, ex-chairman of Gaddiannaram Agricultural Market Committee. He is relatively unknown compared to the candidates from other major parties, but might end up splitting the much needed OBC votes, and Telangana votes. Similar could be the role of D. Ramu, another fresh face fielded by Lok Satta.

Claiming to charm the young voters, this 36-year-old postgraduate in Management and HR Manager, promises to split the votes. “The constituency has 1.13 lakh voting for the first time. I have already visited many engineering and degree colleges explaining the importance of voting. I hope we can win if the voting percentage crosses 60 to 65,” Mr. Ramu says. Last elections, the voting percentage was just over 47.

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