Whirlwind tours by political bigwigs to woo voters

Tandur: The residents of the constituency on Wednesday heaved a sigh of relief following the end of cacophony in connection with the long poll campaign. But, when they proceed to the polling centres to utilise their right to vote on December 7, bad roads, pollution, lack of job security, shortage of staff at district hospital, and inclusion of Vikarabad District into Jogulamba zone that said to mar their education and job prospectus in government sectors, will make them think twice before voting. The campaign period in the constituency witnessed various political bigwigs, starting with more than 120-year-old party Congress, AICC president Rahul Gandhi, TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy, CWC member Ghulam Nabi Azad, star campaigners Vijayashanthi, Khushboo, former MP Mohammad Azharuddin, TJS chief Prof Kodandaram and Balladeer Gaddar from People’s Front.

TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao, his son KT Rama Rao and daughter Kavitha campaigned for the pink party. The ruling party at the centre, BJP, also fielded Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and prominent central ministers in support of their candidate during the period. Surprising the political pundits, a large number of people from Peddamul, Basheerabad, Yalal and Tandur mandals turned to all the meetings, road shows participated by the above bigwigs. The political parties in the poll fray were overwhelmed by the public response and express confidence of their victories. According to political analysts most of their speeches and shows organised on mudslinging, allegations and accusations against their rivals. There are some instances where their comments descended to personal attacks. The age-old problems were back staged and whirlwind tours racing against time were largely based on the charisma of the star campaigners.

Most non-Telugu speakers tried to woo the voters by delivering two to three sentences in Telugu. In the melee, speeches of leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Yogi Adityanath suffered translation problems due to the non-availability of professional translators. Respective parties’ candidates accomplished the task with major glitches. When it comes to the party candidates, TRS nominee and caretaker Minister Patnam Mahender Reddy rely on the development programmes and welfare schemes introduced under four-half-year old KCR rule. According to the party sources, his long-standing association with the constituency may influence the poll prospects.

PF candidate Rohith Reddy, who got the ticket after joining the Congress, is resting his hopes on the possible anti-incumbency factor against the TRS government. Incidentally, before joining the national party, he was expelled from the pink party on various grounds. NRI-turned-politician Patel Ravi Shankar, who is the BJP nominee in the fray, conducted door-to-door campaign at various villages in the constituency and focused on explaining central government sponsored schemes that are being implemented in the constituency.

BSP candidate Chandrasekhar Mudiraj highlighted Dr BR Ambedkar’s ideologies in achieving social justice during his poll campaign, and his poll victory will fulfil the aspirations of the framer of the Constitution. Finally, the independent candidate Marri Aditya Reddy, grandson of former Chief Minister Marri Chenna Reddy, who failed to get TJS ticket, campaigned three days before the campaign ended. The people will get clarity when the votes are taken up for counting on December 11.