Raja Singh a formidable rival to MIM, Maha Kutami

The chances of TRS and Maha Kutami candidates depend on how well they can garner the North Indian and the Muslim votes in the constituency

Hyderabad: The Goshamahal Assembly constituency is likely to throw a triangular contest in the coming elections with three major parties BJP, TRS and Congress taking it as a prestige issue.

Key Highlights:
•    All parties eye north Indian and Muslim votes
•    Out of 2.3 lakh electorate, over 50% hail from north India, and 24% are Muslim voters
•    Raja Singh of BJP is riding high on his Hindutva image as his controversial speeches attract youth and right-wing activists
•    Many Hindus like counters to anti-Hindu speeches by any
•    MIM desperate to defeat Raja Singh who expects BJP ticket again
•    Cong and TRS have not yet announced their candidates
•    Ex-MLA Prem Singh Rathore starts campaign, hopeful of TRS ticket
•    Locals expect former Minister Mukesh Goud to be Cong candidate

The Hindi speaking belt from north India, particularly from Rajasthan, Gujarat and other parts, hold key in deciding the winner in the constituency. While the total voters in the constituency are over 2.30 lakh, the Hindi speaking voters are over 50 per cent.

 Similarly, the increase in the minority vote base, particularly the Muslims, has made them an important factor. As per the estimates, there are about 50,000 Muslim voters (nearly 24 per cent) in the constituency.

Raja Singh of BJP is the sitting MLA from here and he is expecting a ticket from the party once again. According to locals, the incumbent is facing opposition from the locals, especially from his own Lodh community, as he failed to keep the promise of rehabilitating the families involved in making and selling of Gudumba. 

However, the MLA had several times raised the issue in Assembly stating that the government was never bothered to address their issues. The advantage factor for Raja Singh is his image of Hindutva. He is famous among the youth and attracts huge gathering in his meetings and is seen as an antidote to MIM leaders in the city.

The ruling TRS and opposition Congress are yet to announce their candidates, but the aspirant leaders have already started campaigning in the constituency. There were talks that Nagender was to be given a ticket from TRS, but according to sources, the ticket was not given on the insistence of MIM leaders. The MIM also wants Raja Singh to be defeated.

Though no candidate has been declared by the party, Prem Singh Rathore has started campaign in the constituency. When asked, Rathore said that he is campaigning in the constituency as he was former MLA of the constituency and he heads the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation. “As a party leader I have a responsibility to ensure victory of my party and I am working for the victory of TRS. I have taken up several development activities in the constituency during my tenure,” said Rathore.

According to locals, Mukesh Goud is likely to be the Congress candidate. Goud also represented Goshamahal and was also minister in YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s cabinet. Locals say that there was some development in the constituency during Mukesh’s tenure as MLA and minister.

The locals said that the candidate who can get more than 50,000 votes is going to be a winner. During the 2014 elections, Raja Singh defeated his nearest rival Mukesh Goud of Congress with a margin of 46,811 votes. While Raja Singh secured over 92,000 votes, Mukesh Goud got nearly 46,000 votes. 

The locals said that Prem Singh Rathore would be a strong contender to Raja Singh as he has earlier served as MLA and also got good support locally. The chances of TRS and Congress candidates would depend on how well they can garner the North Indian and Muslim votes in the constituency.