Andhra votes most crucial in LB Nagar

LB Nagar: The dance of democracy is in full action in the L B Nagar Assembly segment. With just 57 days to go for elections, the area is in the midst of a political maelstrom. Caste, dissent, opportunism, calculations; you name it and there is every bit of drama. 

Among the pertinent questions that are being asked include - what is the exact strategy of R Krishnaiah, who for the first time entered the State Assembly on a TDP ticket but has been maintaining a silent distance with the party activities for the last four years? Why majority of the TRS corporators are not actively participating in poll campaign for the party candidate Muddagouni Rammohan Goud? 

What makes the TDP constituency in-charge Sama Ranga Reddy and former legislator Devireddy Sudheer Reddy of Congress conduct door-to-door campaign, though ‘Mahakutami’ (Grand Alliance) is yet to announce its candidate? 
The answers are hidden behind a veil of several strategies that are getting unfold with each passing day.

 Krishnaiah maintains that whichever party he aligns with, the protection of BCs would be on his top priority. Known as a BC leader, he has been making his stand clear. Ironically, he has been silent all these years and now is again ready to fight from a TDP ticket but the latter is in no mood to offer a ticket. Political pundits say that he is at the moment playing a waiting game. 

Another interesting development is the lack of support for Muddagouni Rammohan Goud from the corporators. The ‘Reddy’ versus ‘BC’ issue is being cited as a major reason. Six corporators are Reddys. It may be interesting to note that last month, the corporators met KT Rama Rao on the issue and returned that the party had taken a decision after a lot of thought and that all should support Muddagouni. 

Support, however, is half-hearted. What could be the stand of the Andhra people (settlers) who have occupied lion share in the population of the constituency in the ensuing election? How BJP is going to encash the volatile situation in elections as well as the pink party?  Does the recently launched Metro Rail increase the winning chances of TRS? The candidates are not stressing on Metro rail and the recently launched flyover. 

Tussle for ticket

Sama Ranga Reddy and Devireddy Sudheer Reddy are competing with each other in poll campaigning for their respective parties with a hope of getting ticketS. According to Telugu Desam Party sources, as the constituency was represented by TDP legislator in the recently dissolved State Assembly, this time also Sama is expecting the same and his poll campaign has been reflecting it. 

According to political analysts, though the opponents called it as Andhra party, Telugu Desam in collaboration with BJP won the constituency in the first election after Telangana was formed. The leaders are in a hope of repeating the same victory.  

Sudheer Reddy who served as full time Congress legislator from 2009 to 2014 was defeated in the last elections. He is however exuding confidence on getting the candidature. He is banking on his political experience to conduct a poll campaign by arranging division wise ‘Atmeeya Sammelanam’ (get together) meetings with the executive members of associations of various colonies. Apart from this, he has been interacting with residents of the colonies by conducting door-to-door campaign. 

According to the Election Commission India, there are a total of 5,29,674 voters in the constituency. It is estimated that about 15 per cent of the total voters are of Andhra origin. According to political analysts, they too can play a key role in the December elections. 

TDP leaders are of the opinion that the 15 per cent voters will once again choose their candidate. But TRS leaders differ with them and exuded confidence on their victory by claiming development activities including recently launched fly over from Kamineni Hospital Junction to LB Nagar and long awaited Metro Rail from LB Nagar to Miyapur. 

According to the party sources, most of the Andhra leaders in the constituency are enjoying good positions in the party. Some of them switched their loyalty from TDP, Congress and BJP to TRS. But according to political analysts, their voting pattern depends on the declaration of GA candidate.

Role of settlers

The role of settlers who constitute 60,000 to 70,000 votes is going to be crucial as this segment is also known to vote and is very political. Raghav, a resident says, “According to a study conducted by MA students of Osmania University, it was found that the settlers are an active lot and franchise their vote.” 
There is a sizable number of settlers in Chaitanyapuri, Dilshuknagar, Vanasthalipuram and Gaddianaram.