The poll pact between Telugu Desam and Bharatiya Janata Party is set to have some effect on the voting pattern in most of the 24 Assembly constituencies of GHMC jurisdiction, barring those in the old city. But it is not so in Medchal.
Political pundits feel while BJP is not that strong here compared to other constituencies in the city, base of TDP had been eroding since its leader T. Devender Goud quit the party in 2008.
Another blow to TD is its nominee in 2009, N. Prabhakar Goud, joining Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) few days ago giving a fillip to the latter’s candidate M. Sudheer Reddy.
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Even the supporters of Congress sitting MLA K. Laxma Reddy, who defeated Goud with nearly 6,500 last time and aiming for second consecutive term, says his rival is TRS nominee and not the TD candidate.
A Congress bastion since 1962, Medchal Assembly constituency abutting State capital on northern side witnessed a political revolution of sorts when Telugu Desam nominee won over Congress candidate in 1985 elections. Though the Congress regained the seat in 1989, it remained a stronghold of TD for next three terms with Devender Goud winning three consecutive terms and earning him the ‘second top leader’ in the party and the Government as well.
Industrialist Laxma Reddy broke the TD record in 2009 by winning over TD candidate. Comprising the mandals of Shamirpet, Medchal, Keesara and Ghatkesar, the constituency has mostly rural areas. Thanks to the real estate boom, thousands of acres of agricultural lands here have been transformed into real estate ventures and residential colonies.
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Being close to capital with vast tracts of open lands, the area witnessed establishment of several industrial units.