Will the Telangana Rashtra Samithi retain its 2014 magic in this Assembly elections in North Telangana? This is the biggest question weighing heavily on the minds of the political parties and the voters and it does not appear so.
From the talk of an almost one-sided poll few weeks ago, the Congress-led People’s Front has apparently made significant inroads in several districts throwing up the prospects of keen contests. Given the neck-to-neck contests on the cards in these districts, one cannot rule out a few surprises when the results are declared on December 11.
The high voltage campaign laced with a spree of promises by both sides has made sure that it is going to be a close call for the contesting candidates in the erstwhile Nizamabad, Adilabad and Karimnagar districts. The BJP too is in the field, but to a limited extent. There are wide variety of issues and differences in the images of the respective contestants as this correspondent realized after touring the interior parts of the three districts, covering 16 constituencies.
Local issues, accessibility of the candidates, conduct of second rung leaders, caste and communal equations are among key factors that will influence voting. The TRS is betting big on its resolve to complete the ongoing irrigation projects, particularly Kaleshwaram. Interestingly, the ongoing war of words between TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu is not an issue at all in the rural parts.
Touch and go
In the erstwhile Nizamabad which is now divided into two districts — Nizamabad and Kamareddy — it is close contest between the TRS and the Congress. The TRS which won all the nine seats in 2014 elections may find it hard to retain them all, going by the mood of the voters. Observers point out that it could be touch and go situation in Kamareddy, Yellareddy, Bodhan, Nizamabad Urban and Nizamabad Rural, Armoor and Balkonda constituencies where the TRS and Congress nominees are on equal footing.
Local anti-incumbency could play spoilsport for TRS candidates although there is all round appreciation for the Chief Minister for his welfare schemes.
The erstwhile Karimnagar district may throw up mixed bag of fortunes for the principal contenders. The TRS and the Congress candidates are sweating it out in Korutla, Jagtial, Dharmapuri, Ramagundam, Peddapalli, Karimnagar and Manakondur constituencies. Korutla is likely to witness intense battle between the sitting member K. Vidyasagar Rao and Juvvadi Narsing Rao, son of Congress veteran and former minister Juvvadi Ratnakar Rao.
Minority vote
Which way the minorities will vote is a crucial factor that the parties are trying to figure out. At least half a dozen constituencies in these districts have sizeable Muslim voters, whose vote can be decisive. Minority leaders dropped hints that the entire community may not sail with the TRS as it did in 2014. One leader maintained that in certain mosques, during the Friday prayers, announcement was made to back the Congress.
All eyes are on the coal belt region that will send as many as 12 MLAs. A visit to the Singareni Collieries Company Limited coal mines in Bellampally area indicated that it will not be the repeat of 2014 when TRS managed to win the miners over. The issue of dependent employment scheme, delay in providing housing loans and mechanization leading to cut in jobs are likely to impact the outcome. Opinion is divided among the miners on giving a second chance to the TRS. While those who availed of the benefit of dependent employment scheme are determined to back the TRS, there are dissenting voices from those who missed out the opportunity. They have doubts over the manner in which the selection of eligible employees for retirement was made.
Statehood sentiment
Rival parties claim that the TRS popularity is on the wane and the statehood sentiment is next to nothing in this polls. But, the TRS leaders are confident of making a strong comeback on the back of popular social security schemes, particularly pensions for old age, disabled and other forms of benefit. KCR has lot of appeal and his words will be fulfilled at any cost is what the TRS leadership feels as the campaign gets into top gear with just 48 hours left for the electioneering to end.
On the whole, the TRS and the Congress are on equal footing, the former is fighting hard to retain all its seats in North Telangana that it had won in 2014 while the Congress is hopeful of improving its tally in the region, a confidence that stems from the feeling that the TDP’s committed cadre will vote for its nominees.
