Non-tribals, women voters crucial in Adilabad LS polls

Adilabad: The votes of non-tribals, who outnumber Adivasis in the agency areas of Adilabad district, have become crucial for the candidates contesting in LS elections. The seven Assembly constituencies – Adilabad, Sirpur T, Asifabad, Khanapur, Boath, Nirmal and Mudhole - in Adilabad Lok Sabha constituency have a total of 14,78,662 voters. Of this, 50 per cent are non-tribals. Boath, Khanapur and Asifabad constituencies only have more tribals than non-tribals.

The tribal candidates contesting from Adilabad Lok Sabha constituency has to attract the non-tribals for their votes.Hence all the candidates along with their party senior leaders are putting more efforts to influence non-tribal voters, which can decide their fate in the polls.

In order to seek the favour of non-tribals, the candidates are speaking about the rights of non-tribals living in agency areas. They are also demanding amendment of 1/70 law, which is against the rights of non-tribals living in agency areas and demanding the right to land in agency area.At the same time, the candidates are not leaving the tribals. They are targeting them also, who have a vote bank of more than 3,82,000.

From Adivasi community, Godam Nagesh from the ruling TRS and Soyam Bapu Rao from BJP are contesting in the elections. Political parties are focusing on Lambada vote bank, which has over 1.25 votes. Congress contestant Rathod Ramesh of Lambada community is trying to woo his people.

Apart from non-tribals, women also going to play a crucial role in the elections, as there are more women voters. Of the seven segments in Adilabad LS constituency, five segments - Adilabad, Nirmal, Khanapur, Mudhole and Sirpur-T - are dominated by women. Of the total 2,16,560 voters in Adilabad Assembly constituency, 1,08,892 are women and men are 1,07,619.

In Nirmal segment, of the total 2,37,097 voters, women are 1,25,037 and men are 1,12,027. Mudhole Assembly segment has 2,28,527 voters and of this, women voters are 1,16,999 and 1,11,567 are men. In Khanapur segment, total voters are 2,02,531 including 1,03,068 women and 99,431 men.

As only a fortnight is left for the Lok Sabha elections, candidates in the fray are moving tactically to attract the non-tribal and women voters in the agency areas of Adilabad district.