HYDERABAD: “NTR’s granddaughter!” That was the only magical catchphrase that TDP leaders had when Suhasini Nandamuri started her maiden padayatra across Kukatpally on Tuesday. Touring parts of Hasmatpet, Congress and TDP workers were seen relying heavily on the ‘NTR family’ tag to introduce the rather tight-lipped campaigner to the ‘settler’ population of Kukatpally.
Over 250 supporters thronged the narrow streets of the Anjaiah Nagar in Old Bowenpally, from where Suhasini started her rally after offering prayers at a local temple. “Our focus will be on providing 2-BHK houses and ensuring regular water supply,” she said speaking to Express. Touring over 10 colonies, Suhasini promised to address issues of the constituency if voted to power. New to the political scene, her party workers to it upon themselves to explain her background to curious onlookers, her links to actors Balakrishna and Junior NTR.
After their previous candidate from the area, Madhavram Krishna Rao deflected to TRS, some TDP workers are hoping to project Suhasini as the one who will make up for defections from the yellow party last election season.
A Congress worker said: “The sentiment is pro-TDP, but many have questioned us why Madhavaram Krishna Rao switched camps and never worked for the people. We have been assuring them that Suhasini is a part of the NTR and Naidu family and will always work for the people’s benefit.”
Women voters are thrilled. “We are sure madam will understand issues of women and the community better,” says Swaroopa B, member of the local Mahila sangham. “I voted for TRS the last time but they did not fix the major issue affecting our area -- water supply. Even now, we have not had water for the last three days!”
But, not all feel that way. “She is an outsider at the end of the day. How will she know issues specific to this place? We feel the BSP candidate P Harish Chandra Reddy, who is educated and well versed with local issues is a more promising candidate,” says Niranjan Reddy, a local resident.
‘Kukatpally not full of Andhra settlers’
The constituency has over 3.75 lakh voters and perceived as an AP settler stronghold with leanings to TDP. However, TDP thinktanks says that is not the case. “It is wrong to assume that Kukatpally is full of AP settlers. Our estimates suggest there are 1.9 lakh voters TS settlers and 1.10 lakh are AP settlers and only 75 thousand original residents. So there is no specific focus on AP settlers, TDP is for Telugu people on the whole,” said a leader with the manifesto committee.