Telangana elections: Do we have a choice? Why Talasani still has lead in Sanathnagar

Though Srinivas won on a TDP ticket, his defection to TRS made him answerable to the party’s promises — especially on 2-BHK homes.
Stagnant water on the road at Balkampet| R Satish Babu
Stagnant water on the road at Balkampet| R Satish Babu

HYDERABAD:  There is anger bubbling over the non-implementation of government schemes, but “who is the alternative?” ask residents of Sanathnagar. The constituency has turned into a safe haven for incumbent minister Talasani Srinivas Rao, who jumped ship from TDP to the pink party in 2014. This, despite ‘troubling civic issues’ that residents face in the area.  

Kuna Venkatesh Goud the TDP candidate put forward by the People’s Front is admired by sections of the population, but has been persistently branded as a ‘non-local’ by his opponents, something that can weigh him down. Performance aside, there are other things that work in Srinivas’ favour. One, is the personal rapport he maintains with the local population. “Be it any celebration or inauguration in the constituency, Srinivas makes sure that he attends it,” says a resident. But will this alone deliver the votes to the TRS leader? It’s unlikely. 

Though Srinivas won on a TDP ticket, his defection to TRS made him answerable to the party’s promises — especially on 2-BHK homes. “I am well-off. But there are many poor people who are waiting with the hope of living in their own 2-BHK homes,” Abdul Majeed, a resident of Sanathnagar says. “They didn’t give the houses in the last 4.5 years, what is the guarantee they will do so in the next term?” asks Majeed, who is planning to support the TDP. 

Abbu Khan is all praises for Talasani Srinivas. A resident of DNM Colony in Balkampet, Khan claims his MLA has done significant work. “We have benefitted from KCR-government’s policies so we want him to return to power. But now, he must focus on providing health cards and curb hike in school fees,” he says.  

Garbage overflow
Balkampet now has CC Road and uninterrupted power supply. But access to safe drinking water continues to be a problem. Residents complain that the water supplied is dirty and smelly. This, despite new pipelines being fixed. At Shyam Karan Road, S R Nagar, Bapuji Nagar and Maitrivanam crossroads, the overflowing of sewage is a common ordeal.

“There hasn’t been much development in Ameermet except the parking area near Satyam Theatre,” says A Darmesh, a resident of Dharam Karam Road. “People dump garbage all over the place as there is no proper garbage collection facility,” says Darmesh. But, Darmesh will still vote for Talasani. “If not him, then who?” he asks. 

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