Malkajgiri attracts a star cast

With 80 per cent of the 30,34,870 voters living in the area belonging to the middle-class, Malkajgiri has a tremendous mix of Seemandhra and Telangana voters that makes it a unique constituency. It is already being dubbed the ‘Seemandhra pocket’ in Telangana. Political bigwigs and even electoral novices like Pawan Kalyan are all eyeing the Malkajgiri route to the Lok Sabha.

Greater Hyderabad has three parliamentary constituencies: Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Malkajgiri. Even before the polls were announced, Malkajgiri seat was the bone of contention as each party wanted to establish a base there.

Ever since the constituency was formed after delimitation in 2009, it has been attracting the attention of bigwigs from almost all parties. With the state now divided and the constituency termed as a Seemandhra pocket in the Telangana region, it has evolved itself as the ‘prized’ Lok Sabha seat.

According to grapevine, big guns like Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, Revanth Reddy, Motkupalli Narasimhulu, Indrasena Reddy, Mahendar Reddy are among those hoping to conquer the constituency that is well positioned between the other prestigious Hyderabad and Secunderabad seats.

Adding filmy spice is the latest from tinsel town-Power Star Pawan Kalyan is hoping for political baptism from Malkajgiri. Cantonment, LB Nagar, Uppal, Malkajgiri, Medchal, Qutubullapur and Kukatpally assembly segments form this constituency.

Malkajgiri is one of the biggest constituencies in the state with an electorate of 30,34,870. It also has the distinction for having the highest number of educated middle class voters.Statistics with the Election Commission indicate that nearly 80 per cent of the voters are from middle class. The previous elections saw a 45 per cent turnout. Over 60 per cent of the voters are settlers. Experts say that an almost equal mix of Seemandhra and Telangana voters that comes laced with a sizeable IT populace makes this constituency truly unique that typifies Hyderabad’s cosmopolitan culture.

Reports emerging from the Telugu Desam Party suggest that Revanth Reddy and Motkupalli Narasimhulu are vying for the seat. TDP has a strong cadre in the constituency and hopes that by fielding the right candidate they can tap into a majority of Seemandhra settler votes. In 2009 polls, TDP candidate T Bhimsen secured 2,95,042 votes, while T Devender Goud, who is now a TDP Rajya Sabha member, bagged 2,38,886 votes as a Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) candidate.

Incumbent MP Sarve Satyanarayana is confident of retaining the seat. Congress party sources say that there is an overwhelming Telangana sentiment which will help them as it is Sonia Gandhi who ‘created’ Telangana State. Meanwhile, indications are that Sabitha Indra Reddy is lobbying for her son Karthik Reddy. BJP is also caught in a triple crossfire as Ramchander Rao, Indrasena Reddy and Perala Ramchandar Rao are pressing for their own candidature so that they could take advantage of the NaMo wave that is ‘sweeping’ the nation. TRS has more or less zeroed in on Mahender Reddy.

The AIMIM didn’t field any candidate in the previous polls as the number of Muslim voters in the constituency was less than 50,000 and it is highly unlikely that they would field a candidate this time around.

Reports doing the rounds are that Jayaprakash Narayan is also keen on Malkajgiri seat.

Given the star cast and Pawan Kalyan himself angling for a role, the battle ahead at Malkajgiri will be a sure shot blockbuster at the box-office, irrespective of who eventually is in the electoral battle.