Congress launches election campaign in Old City

Hyderabad: The Congress party on Saturday launched its campaign for the next Assembly elections in Karwan constituency.
 
AICC Secretaries N.S. Bose Raju and Saleem Ahmed flagged off the campaign after they offered prayers at Dargah Hazrath Syed Shah Meeran Hasan Saani (RA).
 
Led by TPCC Minorities Dept chairman Shaik Abdullah Sohail, hundreds of Congress workers organised a padayatra from Fateh Darwaza to Bala Hisar of Golconda Fort. Senior leaders including TPCC Spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin, Samad Khan and Yousuf Afsar Zai also participated in the padayatra.
 
They interacted with the local residents and shop keepers on the problems being faced by them and apprised them about the failures of TRS Government and the MIM. They briefed the local residents on how TRS Government cheated the Muslims on the promise of 12% reservation and other issues. They said thousands of poor people, belonging to all communities, were betrayed by the TRS and MIM on the promise of providing double bed room houses. Similarly, nothing has been done by KCR regime to tackle the problem of rising unemployment.
 
"Karwan is among the most backward constituencies of Telangana with absolutely no basic amenities. Despite being an urban constituency, Karwan lacks proper roads, drainage system or other civic amenities. Piles of garbage at streets have become landmarks of several localities and all residents have become habituated of walking along overflowing drains. MIM is representing this seat since 1999 with no accountability towards people. The MIM leaders have no idea about the real problems being faced by people and they also have no intentions to resolve them," said Shaik Abdullah Sohail while addressing the local residents during the padayatra.
 
Abdullah Sohail said that the Congress party did not focus on areas fallings under Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, which includes Karwan, in the past due to its alliance with the MIM. However, this time, he said Congress cadre has clear instructions to wage a tough electoral battle in all the areas of Hyderabad. "Karwan is being represented by MIM since 1999. But it made no efforts to develop the constituency. Karwan is of historical importance due to the presence of Golconda Fort and other places. This could have been developed as a major tourist and commercial destination. Congress party will come up with a separate manifesto for Karwan constituency and assure the local residents that we will ensure development in their areas," he said.
 
Speaking to media persons later, TPCC Spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin said that the Congress party would focus on 'low-pitch, high-intensity' campaign in the Old City. Instead of organising big public meetings or rallies, the focus would be on having one-on-one interaction with the voters.
 
Congress leader Waliullah Sameer, who organised the padayatra, said that the focus would be on raising local issues. He pointed out that important localities like Golconda and Tolichowki have become notorious for mosquito menace. "People of Karwan have been voting for MIM for the last so many decades without asking them any questions on their failures. The MIM has failed to address a simple issue like mosquito menace which is causing malaria, dengue and other diseases. Congress party will highlight these issues and ask people to take the right decision. We came up with a slogan 'Fly Kite to get a mosquito bite' in the area. If people again vote for MIM's symbol Kite, then will they will only get mosquito bites," he said.
 
Meanwhile, Abdullah Sohail informed that the Congress party would soon announce the campaign schedule for other constituencies of Old City of Hyderabad.